Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello is ecstatic after being ranked world No.52 by World Table Tennis, The PUNCH reports.
Bello moved up 291 places in the latest WTT ranking for women following her outstanding performance at the recent 2022 ITTF Africa Cup final at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The 24-year-old who was the surprise player of the tournament lost 4-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6) in the final to Egypt’s Hana Goda was rewarded for her fantastic run to the event with 343 points in the recent ranking made available to our correspondent.
She is currently the fourth highest-ranked table tennis player behind Egyptian trio, Goda who also climbed 10 spots to place No.33 in the world.
Mariam Alhodaby from Egypt also dropped a place to 41 in the latest ranking while Dina Meshref was unmoved No.47.
Yousra Helmy who occupies the fifth position in Africa dropped a place while Offiong Edem ranked 94th completes the list of Africans in the top 100 for the month under review.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the 24-year-old said, “I’m very happy at my exploits at the Africa Cup but I was disappointed at the way I lost in the final but irrespective of the defeat, I’m happy with my new ranking and I hope to improve better.
“With the games, I have been playing my confidence is growing further and I hope to stay consistent.”
Meanwhile, only two Nigerians made the top 100 in the ranking released.
Aruna Quadri retained his 10th position despite losing 4-3 in the Africa Cup final in Lagos while Bode Abiodun is finished the month under review in 99th position.
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