African stars face challenging draws at the 2025 ITTF World Championships, set to take place in Doha, Qatar, from May 17 to 25.
Returning to Doha, which made history by hosting the Middle East’s first World Championships in 2004, the city is ready to add another chapter to its rich legacy in table tennis.
The draw ceremony, held at the Mall of Qatar on Wednesday, April 30, captivated official guests, local media, and hundreds of curious shoppers. The public event created a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere, allowing fans to engage with the sport and witness the draw live, setting the stage for the excitement to come in Doha.
Top-seeded African players, including Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda, Omar Assar, and Dina Meshref, were handed tough first-round opponents.
In the men’s singles, Aruna will start his campaign against Brazil’s Victor Ishiy; Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali will take on Sweden’s Anton Kallberg; Omar Assar will slug it out against Croatia’s Frane Kojic; Benin Republic’s Kokou Fanny will face French sensation Alexix Lebrun; Tunisia’s Wassim Essid will clash against Spain’s Juan Perez; Egypt’s Aly Ghallab will confront Romania’s Eduard Ionescu; Madagascar’s Fabio Rakotoarimanana will square up against Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic; Nigeria’s Muiz Adegoke battles Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse; Nigeria’s Matthew Kuti clash against Poland’s Samuel Kulczycki; Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa will face Japanese Kenji Matsudaira’ Egypt’s Youssef Abdelaziz will compete against China’s Lin Gaoyuan; Algeria’s Milhane Jellouli; Egypt’s Mahmoud Helmy will be up against Frenchman Simon Gauzy while Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo will take on Brazil’s Leonardo Iizuka in the first round matches of the prestigious tournament.
In the women’s singles, Goda will take on New Zealand’s Jiamuwa Wu; Mariam Alhodaby will slug it out against Germany’s Sabine Winter; Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka will battle Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi; South Africa’s Rochica Sonday will face a Herculean task against China’s Chen Xingtong; Egypt’s Yousra Helmy will square up against New Zealand’s Jocelyn Lam; Nigeria’s Ajoke Ojomu will be up against Sally Moyland; Uganda’s Judith Nangonzi versus Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi; South Africa’s Danisha Patel will be facing Serbia’s Andrea Todorovic; Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello will be up against India’s Manika Batra; Egypt’s Dina Meshref will confront Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova; while Algeria’s Malissa Nasri versus Brazil’s Laura Watanabe in their bid to secure their places in the second round of the tournament.
African players will also compete in the Doubles and Mixed Doubles events.
The tournament will be held at the Lusail Arena and Qatar University Sports Complex, marking a full-circle moment for Doha.
The Qatari capital is once again preparing to welcome the world for what promises to be a historic and unforgettable event.
According to the ITTF, the 2025 edition promises unparalleled excitement with five events featuring the planet’s finest talents competing for glory.
