African champion Hana Goda continued her impressive run at the 2025 ITTF World Championships, storming into the third round of the Women’s Singles in Doha, Qatar.
Improving on her 2023 performance in Durban, South Africa – where her journey ended in the second round – Goda confidently dispatched Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi 4-1 on Monday, May 19, at Qatar University.
Facing the South American, who had earlier eliminated Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka, Goda responded strongly after dropping the first set 9–11.
From the second set onward, she was in dominant form, executing a range of tactics that overwhelmed her opponent.
Aside from a brief setback in the fourth set, where she trailed twice, Goda controlled the match and maintained the lead throughout.
She closed the tie convincingly at 4-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7), becoming the only African woman to reach the third round of the singles event.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a major challenge lies ahead as she prepares to face the tournament’s fourth seed, Wang Yidi of China, in the next round. (NAN)
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