Nigeria's ace para badminton player, Eniola Bolaji, has once again etched her name in the annals of African badminton history by clinching the gold medal at the 2026 Egypt International Championship.
The world No. 2 ranked player displayed an imperious performance, defeating Turkey's Halime Yildiz 2-0 (21-10, 21-4) in the final on Sunday, January 18, at the New Capital Indoor Hall in Cairo.
Bolaji's campaign in the tournament was nothing short of remarkable, as she stormed into the final with a string of convincing wins. She began her journey with a thumping 2-0 (21-9, 21-10) victory over Yildiz in the opening round, followed by a 2-0 (21-10, 21-7) win over India's Tulika Jadgave in the second round. The Nigerian shuttler continued her dominance, beating India's Manasi Girishchandra Joshi 2-0 (21-11, 21-13) to set up a semifinal clash against India's Shivam Yadav Neeraj, which she won convincingly 2-0 (21-10, 21-11).
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria's President, Francis Orbih, expressed immense pride and delight at Bolaji's achievement, praising her consistency in putting the country on the global map.
"I am thrilled that Eniola Bolaji has once again demonstrated her prowess on the world stage by winning gold at the Egypt Para Badminton International," Orbih said. "In 2025, she embarked on a remarkable journey, claiming victory in North Africa and going on to win all the available gold medals except one.
I firmly believe that Bolaji will have an exciting year ahead, and she will continue to bring pride to Nigeria and the Federation."
Orbih also lauded the team's sponsors, GIG Logistics, and the National Sports Commission for their unwavering support in the development of para badminton.
"I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and the National Sports Commission for their tireless efforts in promoting para badminton. I assure you that Eniola Bolaji will continue to give her best in subsequent tournaments," he added.
With this victory, Bolaji cements her position as one of the world's top para badminton players, and her fans eagerly await her next move.
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