By Andrew Abah, Abuja
The National Sports Commission has congratulated Nigeria’s para-badminton star, Eniola Mariam Bolaji, for achieving the historic feat of becoming the World Number One in the Women’s SL3 category.
Bolaji climbed unto the summit of the global rankings with 63,950 points, displacing Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh, following her outstanding performance at the World Para Badminton Championships where she reached the final and claimed a silver medal.
In so doing, she also became the first African athlete to play in the final of the World Para-Badminton Championship.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described Bolaji’s achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian sports.
The Director-General of the Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, commended the Badminton Federation of Nigeria for its strategic development of the sport and dedication to athlete welfare.
“If you take care of the athletes, they will always return with medals and global recognition. Eniola’s achievement reflects deliberate planning, proper support and a merit-driven system. We congratulate her and the Badminton Federation for creating an enabling environment for her success.”
The Commission also extended appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support for sports development in Nigeria.
“We thank Mr. President for his consistent backing of Nigerian sports. Under this renewed commitment, Nigeria has hosted the Davis Cup after 19 years, successfully organized the Africa Run Conference, and delivered another world-class edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. These milestones signal our determination to reposition Nigeria prominently within the global sports landscape.”
This latest milestone adds to Bolaji’s growing legacy. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Bolaji made history as the first African athlete to win a medal in para-badminton at either the Olympics or Paralympics, securing a bronze medal in the Women’s Singles SL3 event.
The NSC stated that her rise to World Number One symbolizes a new era of excellence, inclusivity and global competitiveness for Nigerian sports.
