Paris 2024 Paralympics: Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji wins first badminton medal for Africa

Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji won a bronze medal at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the Para badminton Women’s singles SL3 event on Monday.

Bolaji overpowered Oksana Kozyna in straight sets, beating the Ukrainian 2-0 with a 21-9, 21-9 score to win Nigeria’s first medal of the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

The 18-year-old made history by becoming the first African athlete to win a badminton medal at either the Olympic or Paralympics Games.

The Nigerian also became the first African to reach the semifinals in Para Badminton at the Paralympics where she lost to China’s Xiao Zuxian, who took 40 minutes to win at 21-16, 21-17.

She is also the first African player to win a Badminton match at the Paralympics following a historic victory over Australia’s Celine Aurelie Vinot.

With this victory, Team Nigeria now shares the 61st position in the medal table with five other controls: Ecuador, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia and Nepal.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which began on August 28, will come to an end on Sunday, September 8.