July 27, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s para-badminton star, Mariam Eniola Bolaji, stunned the badminton world by defeating Indonesia’s world number one, Syakuroh Qonitah Ikhtiar, to claim gold at the British and Irish Para-Badminton International in Cardiff on Saturday. The 19-year-old Nigerian overcame the Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist 21-16, 16-21, 21-13 in a thrilling three-set final at the Sport Wales National Centre, with the packed Court 4 crowd witnessing a masterclass in competitive resilience.
The victory is a remarkable turnaround for Bolaji, who lost to the same opponent in the Paralympic semi-finals just 11 months earlier. At Paris 2024, Bolaji made history as Africa’s first badminton medallist at Paralympic level, claiming bronze in the Women’s Singles SL3 category after her semi-final defeat to Ikhtiar. Saturday’s win in Cardiff signals her evolution from promising newcomer to genuine world-beater.
This latest triumph extends Bolaji’s extraordinary winning streak to 12 consecutive titles at major para-badminton tournaments in 2025. Her dominant form has included commanding victories at the Egypt Para-Badminton International in Cairo, where she demolished Sweden’s Hillevi Salomonsson 21-1, 21-2, and impressive wins over Turkey’s Halime Yildiz and Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna at the Spanish Para-Badminton International in Toledo.
Badminton Federation of Nigeria president, Francis Orbih, hailed Bolaji’s mental fortitude and tactical maturity in overcoming the world’s best player. The National Sports Commission has also pledged increased investment in para-sport infrastructure, citing Bolaji’s performances as validation of their development strategy.
Currently ranked second in the world in the SL3 classification, Bolaji’s consistent victories over top-ranked opponents position her as the leading candidate to claim the world number one spot before year’s end. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games on the horizon and her confidence soaring, the teenager’s rapid ascent continues to inspire Nigeria’s sporting ambitions and elevate para-badminton’s profile across Africa.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
