Eniola Bolaji has become the first para-athlete to win a medal at the ongoing 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Bolaji beat Ukrainian Oksana Kozyna in two straight sets (21-9, 21-9) in Para Badminton to clinch Bronze on Monday morning.
The 18-year-old suffered a defeat in the semi-final before she bounced back to win a bronze.
Bolaji had vowed to win a medal in honour of her late coach, Bello Rafiu Oyebanji, who lost his life in a motor accident three years ago.
She said, “This is amazing; it’s something I’ve dreamed of. I was training for Tokyo 2020 in mixed doubles, but I lost my coach. So, it is an honour for me to be here.”
The bronze medalist explained how training with a club in Spain became helpful in her skills development.
“In Nigeria, I have to take a cab from my house to the stadium, but in Spain, I just have to walk two minutes to the stadium I play with professional players at the club, so that has helped me,” Bolaji said.
