Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medalist Eniola Bolaji stands on the verge of global glory as she prepares for the women’s SL3 final at the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship this Saturday. The Nigerian sensation secured her place in the gold-medal match following a dominant semifinal performance at the New Capital Indoor Hall in Bahrain on Friday.
Bolaji comfortably outclassed China’s Gaoying Yuan with a straight-sets victory of 21-12, 21-16, setting up a highly anticipated championship showdown against Shino Kawai of Japan.
The reigning African champion has maintained a flawless run throughout the tournament, dispatching every opponent with clinical precision. She initiated her campaign by defeating Australia’s world number 18, Caitlin Dransfield, before delivering a lopsided 21-3, 21-7 win against Brazil’s Adriane Ávila. Her path to the final also included a decisive round-of-16 win over France’s Milena Surreau and a quarterfinal triumph against world number five Halime Yildiz of Turkey, whom she beat 21-6, 21-9.
“I am excited that Eniola Bolaji has reached her second final in two months, and that Chigozie Nnanna has secured his first World Championship medal,” stated Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria.
The tournament has already yielded historic results for the Nigerian contingent, as Chigozie Nnanna earned a bronze medal in the men’s SL4 category. Although Nnanna fell in the semifinals to India’s world number two Naveen Sivakumar, his podium finish marks a significant milestone for the continent. Together, Bolaji and Nnanna have officially become the first African athletes to secure medals at the Para-Badminton World Championship, further elevating the profile of the sport across Africa.
Bolaji continues to build on her legendary status after her groundbreaking performance at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in France. By reaching this final, she aims to add a world championship crown to her resume and solidify her position as the premier player in her class. The Nigerian sports community now awaits the results of today’s final, hoping Bolaji can translate her current momentum into a historic gold medal for her country.
About the Author
