Eniola Mariam Bolaji has made history by becoming the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton, securing a bronze medal for Nigeria in the Women’s Singles SL3 category at the Paris Paralympics.
The 18-year-old achieved this remarkable feat by defeating her Ukrainian opponent, Oksana Kozyna, in straight sets 2-0 (21-9, 21-9) on Monday, September 1. Bolaji’s victory marks Nigeria’s first-ever Paralympic medal in this sport.
Despite having her eyes set on gold, Bolaji narrowly missed out on the final after losing 2-0 (16-21, 17-21) to China’s Zuxian Xiao in the semi-final on Sunday. However, she bounced back to claim the bronze medal in a dominant performance.
Bolaji entered the Paralympics as one of the favorites for the title, following her impressive victories in tournaments held in Egypt and Spain. Her historic achievement is a proud moment for Nigeria and the entire African continent.