Nigerian para-badminton star Eniola Bolaji has once again proven her mettle on the global stage, claiming the gold medal in the women’s SL3 category at the Para-badminton International 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
The 19-year-old overwhelmed Sweden’s Hillevi Salomonsson in a one-sided final on Sunday, sealing a commanding 2-0 victory (21-2, 21-1).
This latest achievement adds to Bolaji’s already illustrious record, marking her 58th win in 64 matches over the past two years.
Remarkably, she has won all 10 international championships she has participated in since her breakout in 2021.
A Dominant Display in Cairo
Bolaji displayed unmatched dominance throughout the tournament, breezing past her opponents, including Shahinda Mohamed, Basma Nabil-Fawzy, and Elizabeth Puma, all in straight sets.
Her stellar form culminated in an awe-inspiring final performance, where she barely allowed her Swedish opponent to register any points.
Speaking after her victory, Bolaji took to social media platform X to express her joy:
“It’s back-to-back celebration for my country and myself. Again, I was out with a goal to bring honour to my country, and I am glad I recorded another milestone,” she wrote.
“I use this moment to encourage the youth of my country to ‘Never Give Up.’ Nigeria, I hail thee!”
Trailblazing Career
Bolaji’s success is not a new phenomenon. At just 16, she made history in 2021 by becoming the first African athlete to win gold at the Spanish Para-badminton International Championship, where she defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna in a thrilling final (18-21, 21-14, 21-18).
She further cemented her legacy by earning Nigeria’s first medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, a bronze in the women’s SL3 para-badminton event.
National and Continental Pride
Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), lauded Bolaji’s latest accomplishment as a monumental milestone for Nigerian sports and a testament to her consistency and hard work.
“It’s wonderful to start this new year on this very bright note with Eniola’s superlative performance in Egypt,” Orbih stated.
“It gladdens our heart as a federation that she has kept being the trailblazer that she has been since she hit the limelight in 2021, and I can tell you that this is a sign of greater things to come.”
Speaking on her ambitions for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, Orbih added:
“Like she said last year during the launch of the BCA campaign to LA 2028, she made it very clear that her target was a gold medal in Los Angeles, and she’s walking the talk.”
Orbih also spoke the broader significance of her achievement:
“So I want to say a big congratulations to Eniola Bolaji for doing Nigeria and Africa proud again, and we are very hopeful that with this new success, she’s likely to climb up to the number one position in the world ranking.”
Future Plans for Excellence
Bolaji’s journey does not end in Cairo. According to Orbih, the federation is fully committed to supporting her development as she prepares for upcoming challenges:
“She’s going from Egypt to Spain for camping till March when she will play two Spanish internationals back to back.”
“I mean, these are all the plans to make sure that she maintains the standard that she has set. For us as a federation, we are very pleased, we are very happy, we are elated with her performance.”
As the 19-year-old continues to break barriers and set records, she remains an inspiration for aspiring athletes across Africa, solidifying her status as one of Nigeria’s brightest sporting icons and looking to write her name in the World Book of Records.
