Nigeria’s para-badminton star Eniola Bolaji has advanced to the final of the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship after a commanding semifinal victory on Friday, February 13, in Bahrain.
The Bahrain tournament has seen the reigning African champion deliver a series of dominant performances, reinforcing her status as one of the world’s top para-badminton athletes.
Bolaji defeated China’s Gaoying Yuan in straight sets, 21–12, 21–16, in the women’s SL3 semifinal at the New Capital Indoor Hall. She will now face Japan’s Shino Kawai in the final scheduled for February 14, as she targets her first world title.
Her journey to the final has been impressive from the opening round. She began her campaign with a confident 2–0 victory over Australia’s Caitlin Dransfield, before overpowering Brazil’s Adriane Ávila in another straight-sets win. In the Round of 16, Bolaji defeated France’s Milena Surreau, then produced another dominant display against Turkey’s Halime Yildiz in the quarterfinal to secure her semifinal place.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chigozie Nnanna delivered a historic performance in the men’s SL4 category, winning a bronze medal after a semifinal loss to India’s Naveen Sivakumar.
With these podium finishes, Bolaji and Nnanna have become the first African players to win medals at the Para-Badminton World Championship — a milestone achievement for Nigerian badminton and the African continent.
Bolaji had previously made history at the 2024 Summer Paralympics, where she became the first African athlete to win a para-badminton medal at the Paralympic Games, claiming bronze in Paris.
Reacting to the performances, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, praised both athletes for their achievements and consistency on the global stage.
He noted that Bolaji’s qualification for another major final within two months reflects the success of deliberate athlete-development strategies aimed at expanding Nigeria’s medal prospects beyond a single competitor.
Orbih also highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s hosting of the African Para-Badminton Championships in Abia State last year, expressing optimism that Bolaji could secure her second gold medal of the year as she continues preparations toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
He further commended the National Sports Commission, the Abia State Government, and GIG Logistics for their continued support in developing para-badminton in Nigeria, describing their contributions as critical to the sport’s recent growth and international success.
