Eniola Mariam Bolaji has made history as the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton, securing a bronze medal for Nigeria in the women’s Singles SL3 category.
Bolaji’s historic achievement came on Monday morning at the Paralympic Games in Paris, where she defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna in straight sets, 2-0 (21-9, 21-9).
Although Bolaji had aspired to claim the gold, her journey was cut short in the semi-final on Sunday, where she narrowly lost to China’s Zuxian Xiao, 2-0 (16-21, 17-21).
Undeterred by the setback, Bolaji bounced back with determination, securing the bronze medal in her next match, thus ensuring Nigeria’s presence on the Paralympic medal table.
This win is especially momentous for Nigeria, as it breaks a medal drought that has persisted across recent major international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the World U-20 Athletics Championship.
