Egypt’s Omar Assar and Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, two prominent table tennis players, will lead a six-man African player contingent to the $1 million prize money elite tournament taking place in Macao, China.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on April 15 and conclude on April 21. The annual tournament, which has been on hiatus for several years, is making a comeback as part of ITTF’s strategic vision and unwavering dedication to revitalizing the sport’s illustrious heritage.
In the men’s event, Assar and Aruna will be joined by Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh and Mohamed El-Beaili, while Egypt’s Hana Goda, the 2023 African Games champion, along with compatriots Mariam Alhodaby and Yousra Helmy, as well as Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou, will compete in the women’s event.
With the centenary celebrations of table tennis approaching in 2026, this initiative embodies ITTF’s commitment to infusing iconic events with renewed energy and excitement.
A total of 48 players will secure coveted spots in the Singles World Cup lineup, with 44 players qualifying through the Continental Cups or World Rankings, and up to two host association players receiving nominations. Each country is expected to enter up to four players, excluding the reigning World Champion and U19 World Champion, who receive automatic qualification.
The 2023 African Games champion Assar and finalist Aruna top the list of African players already confirmed for the championships. In the men’s event, Assar and Aruna will be accompanied by Egypt’s duo of Ahmed Saleh and Mohamed El-Beaili, while 2023 African Games champion Egypt’s Hana Goda, along with compatriots Mariam Alhodaby and Yousra Helmy, as well as Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou, will compete in the women’s event.
Since its inception in 1980 in Hong Kong, China, the World Cup format has evolved with the gathering of the sport’s elite from around the world for intense competition. With an electrifying experience and a new playing system, the action commences with Stage 1, where players are divided into 16 groups of 3, engaging in intense round-robin battles.
The top-ranked players lead each group, with the rest drawn in using a modified snake system to ensure every match is a showcase of skill and strategy. To maintain the competition’s intensity and fairness, players from the same association are placed in different groups.
The winners of each group will progress to the knockout draw of Stage 2, while the Galaxy Arena, the premier indoor venue in Macao, China, with its cutting-edge arena, will fuse the world of table tennis with entertainment, providing an unprecedented spectacle for spectators worldwide.
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