Amiens Defeats Nantes in Pro B Table Tennis Match
Amiens STT secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Nantes TT in a French Pro B table tennis fixture held on Tuesday, September 29, in Loire-Atlantique. Despite missing Panagiotis Gionis due to commitments in the Italian league, Nantes hosted an opponent that head coach Arnaud Sellier noted was aiming for clear promotion this season. The visitors dropped only a single set across the three individual matches, building on an opening-week 3-2 win against Lille to secure their second victory of the campaign.
Reporting on the fixture, Quimper Ma Ville noted that Nantes initially showed strong momentum during the opening exchanges before the visitors overwhelmed the hosts by claiming nine consecutive sets. The contest unfolded across three matches featuring high-ranked international competitors, highlighted by tight margins in both the opening and closing duels.
Quadri Aruna Overcomes Early Deficit Against André Silva
The evening began with a closely contested battle between Amiens‘ top-ranked player, Nigerian Quadri Aruna (world ranking 16), and Portuguese competitor André Silva (ranking 128). Silva asserted control early, utilizing solid footwork to claim the first set 11-7 and holding a 7-6 lead in the second frame. Aruna rallied to take the second set 11-5, before securing the next two frames 11-8 and 11-3 to close out a 3-1 victory.
Amiens coach Arnaud Sellier described the opening match as a critical turning point for the visiting squad, acknowledging that the encounter proved far tighter than the final scoreline indicated. Following the opening match, South Korean competitor Seung-min Cho (ranking 40) defeated Segun Toriola (ranking 156) in straight sets, winning 11-5, 11-6, and 11-5 to extend the visitors’ lead.
Joao Monteiro Seals the Sweep Amid Post-Match Discontent
Portuguese player Joao Monteiro (ranking 47) secured the team sweep for Amiens by defeating Turkey’s Ibrahim Gündüz (ranking 150) in three consecutive sets, winning 11-9, 12-10, and 11-7 to wrap up the 3-0 team outcome. The final match featured a contentious disputed point that drew sharp criticism from the Nantes camp.
According to Quimper Ma Ville, Nantes sporting director Georges Zaganiaris expressed intense dissatisfaction with Monteiro’s conduct during the closing exchange, stating that match officials failed to issue disciplinary cards following verbal altercations. The club reported a bitter outcome from the evening’s final encounter.
Amiens STT Leads Standings Before October Fixtures
With a 2-0 record to start the Pro B season, Amiens STT sits at the top of the standings. Coach Arnaud Sellier said the club must lead early to prove it is a top contender in the division. Nantes enters an extended league break before returning to competition with a match scheduled away against Cergy-Pontoise on Friday, October 23. Amiens will resume play on October 23 by hosting a derby fixture against Compiègne following a one-month break dedicated to continental championships.
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