Egypt’s Goda, Assar won the 2023 ITTF Africa Cup

Egypt’s Hana Goda and Omar Assar were crowned the women’s and men’s champions of the 2023 ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) Africa Cup here on Saturday.

Despite a fear of a back injury, Assar defeated Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna 4-1 in the men’s singles final.

– This is the hardest ITTF Africa Cup I have ever played. “I was very close to quitting when I arrived in Nairobi injured, but thanks to the Kenyan medical team for their efforts because this would not have been possible,” Assar said.

In the women’s final, Goda made a stunning comeback to defend her title with a 4-3 win over Olympian and multiple tournament winner Dina Meshref.

Goda, 15, overwhelmed his compatriots in a pulsating final that treated the crowd to some exhilarating table tennis to become the youngest ever player to defend the African continent’s title.

“I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know how to describe the win. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” an emotional Goda said after the win.

Goda is in fourth place among Juniors and in 37th place in the overall ITTF competition.