Nigeria’s Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji is already on the path to an Olympic medal. She added a gold medal to her growing collection at the 2025 Spanish Para-Badminton International II in Vitoria, making it 11 out of 11 internationals she has played so far.
Her feat at the Paris 2024 ignited the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) to begin the sensitization of Africans for possible medals at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
She has again proven her mettle! The multiple African champion beat Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyba 2-0 (21-15, 21-15) dominating the women’s singles SL3 final category.
Her path to gold was nothing short of impressive. Her path is littered with the carcasses of defeated highly rated players.
Eniola Bolaji on her path to glory
Bolaji first defeated Brazil’s Kauana Michelson Beckenka of Brazil 2-0 (21-15, 21-2) and then France’s Caroline Bergeron 2-0 (21-7, 21-8) at the group stage before cruising through the quarterfinals, where she beat Australia’s Celine Vinot 2-0 (21-8, 21-12).
In the semifinals, Bolaji showcased her exceptional form with a dominant 2-0 (21-12, 21-6) win over India’s Neeraj, booking her spot in the final.
The performance has highlighted the progress badminton has made in Nigeria in the current dispensation.
It is like singing the old famous song: “Let’s do it again” that was made popular in the 1970s.
Francis Orbih, a self-effacing but hardworking chieftain of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria praised Bolaji’s remarkable achievement, noting that the gold marks her second in just two months.
He expressed confidence in the Federation’s ongoing investment in Paralympic athletes, emphasising continued support for Bolaji and other para badminton players.
He said, “Bolaji’s victory is a testament to her dedication and her rising dominance on the world para badminton stage. This gold is her second in just two months, and it shows that our athletes are capable of competing at the highest level.
“We are committed to investing in Bolaji and all our para badminton players. Their success is a reflection of the hard work and resources we are putting into developing the sport. This victory is just one of many more to come.
“One of our focus as a Federation is to ensure more players qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics”, he added.
He also thanked the National Sports Commission for their timely intervention, which has been crucial in aiding the federation’s growth. The Commission’s support and encouragement spells a new dawn for Sports development in Nigeria.
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