Nigeria’s Bolaji wins first badminton medal for Africa

By AFP
September 03, 2024
Mariam Eniola Bolaji of Nigeria celebrates after winning her match against Oksana Kozyna of Ukraine for the bronze medal. — Reuters/file
Mariam Eniola Bolaji of Nigeria celebrates after winning her match against Oksana Kozyna of Ukraine for the bronze medal. — Reuters/file 

PARIS: Mariam Eniola Bolaji of Nigeria became the first African athlete to win a badminton medal at a Games - Olympics or Paralympics -when she clinched bronze in the women’s singles SL3 at the Paris Paralympics on Monday.

The 18-year-old beat Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna 21-9 21-9 to secure a podium finish three years after her coach, Bello Oyebanji, died in a road accident as she was preparing for the Tokyo Paralympics. It is also Nigeria’s first medal at the Paris Paralympics.