Nigerian table tennis standout Quadri Aruna has reflected on the sacrifices behind his rise, describing his move abroad as one of the toughest yet most important decisions of his professional career.
Key takeaways
- Aruna represented Nigeria at three Olympic Games and reached the Rio 2016 men’s singles quarter-finals.
- His best position in the world rankings was No. 10.
- Life in Portugal and France brought challenges including unfamiliar weather, food and loneliness.
- His early overseas schedule revolved almost entirely around training and rest.
- Annual trips home to Nigeria at the end of each season helped sustain his motivation.
Demanding path to professionalism
Aruna said his progress should not be viewed as a straightforward success story, stressing that establishing himself outside Nigeria came with major personal difficulties.
“People should not believe it was simple,” he said. “Nothing came easily for me. Leaving Nigeria to live abroad was extremely, extremely hard.”
The Nigerian, who spent time living in both Portugal and France, found it difficult to adjust to the conditions away from home, particularly the climate, meals and the sense of being isolated.
“You have to deal with the weather, the food and being lonely when you are by yourself,” he said. “But if you truly want to make it, you must leave your comfort zone.”
He recalled an unforgiving daily structure during the early stages of his career. “We trained in the morning, slept, came back in the evening, trained again and then slept,” Aruna said. “Everything was about training and sleeping.”
Family visits provided motivation
That experience made clear to Aruna the commitment required to compete at professional level. He said he accepted that adapting to the routine was essential if he wanted to pursue the sport seriously.
“I understood that, if I wanted to become a professional player, I needed to adjust to that life,” he said. “I chose to continue and not think about returning home.”
Knowing that he would be reunited with relatives in Nigeria after each campaign gave him an important target during difficult periods.
“I knew I would see my family in Nigeria when the season ended, usually in June or July,” he said. “It was never straightforward, but I never considered quitting.”
Aruna’s experience underlines the emotional sacrifices faced by African athletes who pursue careers in Europe, where elite training environments, competitions and facilities are available, but separation from family and home can be particularly difficult.
