By Milcah Tanimu
Eniola Mariam Bolaji has made history as the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton, clinching a Bronze for Nigeria in the women’s Singles SL3 category at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
On Monday morning, Bolaji triumphed over Ukrainian competitor Oksana Kozyna with a decisive 2-0 victory, scoring 21-9 in both sets. This win marks Nigeria’s first Paralympic medal in Paris, ending a period of disappointment following unremarkable performances at recent Olympic Games and the World U-20 Athletics Championship.
Although Bolaji aimed for gold, she fell short in the semi-finals against China’s Zuxian Xiao, losing 2-0 (16-21, 17-21) on Sunday. Despite this, Bolaji’s strong performance on Monday secured her place on the podium.
Stay tuned for more details on this historic achievement.
