Eniola Bolaji makes history as first African to win para badminton championship

Eniola Bolaji has won the gold medal at the 2021 Spanish Para Badminton International Championship.

Bolaji made history as the first African athlete to win gold at the championship.

She beat Oksana Kozyna of Ukraine 18-21, 21-14, 21-18 at the final in Cartagena.

She has also qualified for the World Para Badminton Championship in Japan, courtesy of the victory.

Frank Orbih, president of the Badminton Federation, said Bolaji’s victory proves that para badminton can thrive in Nigeria if given support.

“History was made today (on Sunday) in African and Nigerian para badminton with this record breaking and setting performance by Eniola Bolaji. She has become the first Nigerian and African to get to the finals and go on to win a gold medal in any para badminton event in any international championship,” Orbih said.

“It is a huge consolation for the badminton family that Coach Bello Oyebanji did not die in vain. It is a very emotional one for us. It shows that with consistence and resilience the results will always come.

“She played in an international tournaments for the first time with a great and amazing performance of winning gold in the single SL3 event and qualifying for the World para Badminton championship in Japan come October.”

Late Bello Oyebanji, the coach who discovered Bolaji, was honoured with an applause during the medal presentation.

Oyebanji died in an accident prior to the championship while trying to secure his visa for the tournament.