Nigerian teenager Mariam Eniola Bolaji made history by becoming the first player from Africa to win a medal in badminton at the Paralympic or Olympic Games. The 18-year-old achieved this milestone by defeating Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine with a score of 21-9, 21-9, to secure the para-badminton bronze medal in the women’s SL3 category.
This category is specifically designed for players with a moderate limitation of movement on one side of the body or in both legs, as well as those with missing limbs. Expressing her emotions, she told RFI, “I feel really good. I’m happy because at least I’m going home with a medal. I’m pleased.”
After her defeat to Zuxian Xiao in the semi-final, Bolaji held up a picture of her former coach, Bello Rafiu Oyebanji, who tragically passed away in a car crash in 2021 while she was preparing to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Learning from loss, Bolaji was one of the favorites to take the crown in her category but admitted she had succumbed to the pressure during her semi-final.
