Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigeria's leading para-badminton player, Mariam Eniola Bolaji, added another prestigious medal to her growing collection on Sunday, June 28, 2026, securing a silver medal at the 2026 British & Irish Para-Badminton International in Dublin, Ireland. The 20-year-old put on a dominant display throughout the tournament before narrowly losing a thrilling women's singles SL3 final to Japan's world number one, Shino Kawai, by 21-18, 23-21 at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.
Bolaji's path to the final was marked by a series of emphatic victories, showcasing the form that has made her one of the most formidable athletes in her category. In the group stage, she recorded straight-game wins over India's Neeraj and France's Milena Surreau. She continued her dominant run by defeating Türkiye's Halime Yildiz in the quarter-finals and Australia's Celine Vinot in the semi-finals.
The final against Kawai was a closely contested affair, with both players pushing each other to the limit. Despite a valiant effort, Bolaji was edged out in two tight games, with the scores ending 21-18 and 23-21. The defeat was a reversal of her victory over the Japanese player at the 2024 Paralympics, where she won bronze, and it came after the Japanese star had recently displaced her as the world number one.
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, praised Bolaji for her "fantastic" performance. He expressed confidence in her ability to overcome Kawai in the future and revealed that the federation was planning a three-month overseas training tour to help her bridge the gap with her rival.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, also commended Bolaji for her "discipline, resilience and commitment to excellence". He reaffirmed the commission's dedication to providing the necessary support for Nigerian athletes to succeed on the international stage.
This silver medal is the latest achievement in a stellar career for Bolaji. She made history as the first African athlete to win a medal in badminton at either the Olympics or Paralympics. Earlier this year, in February 2026, she was officially confirmed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as the world's top-ranked SL3 player, making her the first African to achieve this ranking in her category.
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