Eniola’s steady rise to World Number One in para-badminton

When physically challenged Eniola Miriam Bolaji first walked into the sports complex in Ilorin nearly five years ago, she did not arrive with dreams of becoming the world’s number one para-badminton player; she came to play table tennis. However, the single decision to switch sports due to advice from her grassroots coach Bello Oyebanji, who […]

When physically challenged Eniola Miriam Bolaji first walked into the sports complex in Ilorin nearly five years ago, she did not arrive with dreams of becoming the world’s number one para-badminton player; she came to play table tennis.

However, the single decision to switch sports due to advice from her grassroots coach Bello Oyebanji, who later died in a car accident, would alter not just her life, but the history of para-badminton in Nigeria and Africa.

According to Tunde Kazeem, Technical Director of Badminton and former Director of Sports in Kwara State, Eniola’s journey began by divine providence, discipline, and the keen eye of a late coach, who first discovered her talent in Ilorin.

“He noticed her readiness to learn, her discipline, and her unusual commitment. Even when there were no tournaments, she kept coming for training.

“There were no promises of fame, no financial incentives. Till this day, she wished her late coach were around to witness all the glory and be there in all foreign trips,” said Kazeem.

However, her first breakthrough came at a national para tournament about five years ago when she won. That victory signalled the beginning of a steady rise.

Eniola’s real turning point, however, came in Spain in 2021. Competing in the SL3 category, she won gold. That triumph placed her name on the international radar. From there, she began accumulating ranking points through tournaments in Spain, Egypt, and Malaysia, among others.

At the start of her European campaign, she was ranked 22nd in the world. Within months, her ranking climbed rapidly from 22 to 16, from 16 to 12, then to eight. Before her first Paralympic appearance in 2024 in Paris, she was already number three in the world.

“To qualify for the Paralympics, a player must be among the top 10 globally. She exceeded that requirement,” said Kazeem.

At the 2024 Paralympics, she advanced from the group stage to the quarterfinals, then to the semifinals. But the semifinal brought heartbreak. A damaged racket forced an urgent replacement, and the tension of the new racket affected her control in the opening points. She lost the match and settled for bronze. Yet that setback did not slow her momentum.

In the year that followed, she returned stronger. She kept winning. Each tournament added crucial ranking points. By the time she arrived at the World Championships this year, she was ranked number two in the world.

The championship unfolded dramatically. The world number one was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Eniola surged to the final. Although she finished as runner-up, the points she accumulated were enough to push her past her rivals to become the world number one in the women’s SL3 category.

Eniola climbed to the summit of the global rankings with 63,950 points, displacing Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhitar Syakuroh. In doing so, she also became the first African athlete to play in the final of the World Championships in Para-badminton.

However, her rise was not without external pressures. While training in Spain under coach Dina, who had identified her potential during a two-week African training camp organised in collaboration with the Badminton World Federation, there were attempts for her to switch nationality. 

Dina requested that she be allowed to work closely with Eniola during her training in Spain, even asking to be her side coach instead of a Nigerian, which was granted.

But the original memorandum of understanding, Nigerian officials insisted, was strictly for training and development, not nationality transfer. Moreover, international rules require a three-year waiting period before representing a new country in competition. 

The Nigerian federation chose to withdraw her and retain full control of her development due to the way the issue of her foreign training was handled.

Now based partly in Abuja for better facilities, she continued preparations for back-to-back tournaments in Spain, where she previously won consecutive titles in 2023 and 2024.

 

Despite global ranking, challenges remain

Despite global accomplishments, Eniola is yet to enjoy full employment. According to Tunde Kazeem, the physically challenged athlete needs a stable government job, structured financial backing, and consistent access to modern equipment to continue to flourish. 

Para-badminton, particularly at the elite level, demands specialised rackets, high-quality shuttlecocks, and proper flooring. In Kwara, the hall has been renovated, but competition-standard mats are still pending.

Kazeem believes sustained support for Eniola is critical.  “For now, the next test awaits her in Spain next month. And with Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, the road ahead may yet hold an even greater prize.

“Being world number one makes her the player to beat. Every opponent now studies her game. Every match carries higher pressure. Rankings are dynamic. A few missed tournaments can trigger a slide.

“But her strengths remain clear. She is humble. She is disciplined. She is focused. Even during her training stint in Spain, she stayed grounded,” he said.

 

Calls for national recognition 

Stakeholders, including the Technical Director of Badminton, Kazeem, have emphasized that her historic achievement as the first African to reach world number one in her category deserves formal acknowledgment. 

They have urged the state and federal governments, as well as the sports commission and relevant authorities, to honour her with employment, cash rewards, awards, and all necessary support. 

Many are of the opinion that such recognition and honour would not only celebrate her individual excellence, but also inspire young athletes across Nigeria and Africa to pursue international success in sports.

According to Kazeem, “For now, where she stays is nothing to write home about. She needs at least a three-bedroom apartment with a befitting job and mobility as a world number one.

“Moreover, she is physically challenged, and to show inclusivity, something has to be done to appreciate her perseverance and the honour she has continued to bring to her fatherland.

“If she had switched allegiance to Spain, she would have gotten all the financial support she needed,” he said.