Eniola Bolaji has etched her name in history as the first African athlete to secure a medal in Para-Badminton at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
She triumphed over Kozyna Oksana of Ukraine with a score of 21-9, 21-9, earning a bronze medal for Nigeria in the Women’s Singles SL3 category.
Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, extended his congratulations to her earlier today.
Bolaji’s achievement follows her loss in the semi-final match on Sunday.
Senator Enoh urged all athletes in the Paralympics to be excited about victory: “You all can do it for yourselves and for the country. As a ministry, we have made available what you need, make all of the sports-loving people of Nigeria proud of you, fly the nation’s flag very high in Paris. I believe in your capacity. Having done all we should as government, we are rooting for you. It is now over to you to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”
This medal marks Team Nigeria’s first in the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics season.
As the Paralympic Games continue, Bolawa Akingbemisiu, Kayode Alabi, and Isau Ogunkule are set to compete in the Round of 16 for table tennis on the same day.