Aruna Quadri becomes the first Nigerian to win Nigeria Open after 2018 triumph

Africa and Nigeria superstar Aruna Quadri has won the 2018 Nigeria Open after beating France’s Antoine Hachard 4-2 in the final played at the Molade Okoya Hall of the Teslim Balogun stadium on Sunday.

Aruna Quadri who has been the top-seeded player at the event for the past two years came into this year’s competition as Nigeria and Africa’s hope and didn’t disappoint.

After a disappointing quarterfinal finish in 2017 when he was tagged the clear favourite, a round of 32 finish in 2016, a semifinal place in his first attempt in 2014 and a final loss to long-term rival and friend Omar Assar in 2015, Quadri knew anything short of the title would be another disappointing campaign.

Aruna Quadri blitzed his way into the final as he stayed woke throughout the campaign with a strong support from the home crowd.

Aruna Quadri was a class too much for the French as he trashed the world number 18th (11-13, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) to claim a 4-2 win in the final.

The victory puts Aruna Quadri in the history book as the first and only Nigerian to win the Nigerian Open title.