Eniola Bolaji Mariam, an indigene of Kwara state , has become the first Nigerian and African to win the Spanish Para Badminton International Championship 2024 and a gold medal.
She has made her rise in BWF rankings and she is now among the ten best badminton players in the world – she is number 7.
Eniola was discovered in Kwara state by their coach ,late Bello Oyebanji, 4 years ago and she has continued to enjoy the support of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration to conquer the world.
She defeated World number 6, Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine 2-0 to win the gold medal in the women’s SL3 at the 2024 Spanish Championship in Toledo, Spain.
‘We celebrate this young lady who has joined the league of young Kwarans making the State of Harmony and Nigeria as a whole proud globally’ a Government House statement said on Saturday.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has also in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye congratulated Mariam Bolaji on her gold medal win at the Spanish Para Badminton International 2024.
‘After a streak of superlative performances through the tournament, Bolaji again walloped world’s fifth best badminton player Mandeep Kaur of India 2-0 to win the gold medal.
Bolaji is also expected to play at the Paralympic Games in Paris in July’ the statement noted.
The governor said Eniola being on a winning streak, has cemented her towering status as a global para badminton sensation with impressive records over the past years.
‘These successive feats of Bolaji again underline the fact that disabilities exist only in our imagination. We are excited about the deserving successes of Bolaji whose talents, hard work, and focus have rightly earned her a choice place in global badminton community’ the governor said.
Asking Bolaji not to relent in her determination to be at the top of her career, Governor AbdulRazaq also congratulated her managers as well as the Badminton Federation of Nigeria on the success while adding that her feats send the signal to everyone, especially persons living with any form of disability, that hard work and determination can take them to the height of the world.
The governor also said the win brought to mind the death of another great talent , Bello Oyebanji, a staff of the Kwara state Sports Commission who was Bolaji’s coach. Oyebanji, a one-time Nigeria and Africa champion, lost his life on his way from Lagos after collecting visas for himself and Bolaji to travel to Spain in 2021-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
