Hajara: Female badminton star living her dream

Hajara who hails from Auchi Local government in Edo State was born on January 19, 1990 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Braimah Samuel. Both parents brought her up in Abuja, the Federal capital City of Nigeria where they live presently. Hajara who attended Army Day Secondary School Yakubu Gowon Barracks in Abuja started […]

Hajara who hails from Auchi Local government in Edo State was born on January 19, 1990 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Braimah Samuel. Both parents brought her up in Abuja, the Federal capital City of Nigeria where they live presently. Hajara who attended Army Day Secondary School Yakubu Gowon Barracks in Abuja started playing badminton early in life.
Hajara’s neighbor, Uncle Sam introduced her to the game of badminton but her interest was actually fired up by female players like Grace Daniel, Grace Gabriel and Miriam Sude who trained at the indoor sports hall every evening. Uncle Sam introduced her to the senior players and the coaches who imparted into her the rudimentary skills in the sport.
Although at the initial stage she lacked the blessings of her parents, she persevered and at a stage, her mum, Judith who led the crusade against her “first love”, as she calls the game of badminton, had no option but to allow her wish to prevail. However, it wasn’t without a condition. She was to give priority attention to her education.
The much needed support for her to excel in her chosen sport offered itself the moment her parents discovered that her academic endeavours were not being hampered by her active participation in sports. Despite her busy schedule as a badminton player, she was able to pass her secondary school certificate examinations which enabled her proceed to the Abuja School of Accountancy Bwari-Abuja, where she bagged a Diploma certificate in Mass Communication. Presently, she is a student of the Nasarawa State University.
Hajara’s determination and commitment to her game and education paved with for her parents’ blessings to flow freely on her and within no time, she was noticed by national team coaches who started grooming her to take over from the likes of Grace Daniel who are in the twilight of their career.
Having started her playing career in the FCT, the badminton star has represented the Federal Capital Territory at so many competitions. She has been instrumental to the excellent performances of the FCT badminton team. The New Delhi 2010 bound badminton player is a proud winner of gold, silver and bronze medals which she has won at different championships. In her short period of active participation in the sport, Hajara has become a source of inspiration to other female badminton players in the FCT.
The major breakthrough for the staff of Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, came in the year 2004 when she was among those who represented Nigeria at the World Youth Championship in Canada.  Although she could not post excellent performances due to lack of exposure and experience, the Canada trip no doubt exposed her innate potentials in the game and fired up her expectations. She began to aspire to remain on top of her game so as to realize her dream of playing for her country at the senior level.
“I learnt a lot from the Canada trip. Although I did not perform well, my interest in the gamesoared. I became more interested. I was convinced that if I re-double my efforts, nothing would stop me from realizing my dreams. I was privileged to meet better players, great players who have been champions. I was the only Nigerian and African player at the Championship. 
Apart from the championship in Canada, Hajara has represented Nigeria at the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria where she won gold in the team event. She and some of her mates were taken to the Games to under study some of the senior players and it was another moment for her to cherish for some time.
The Edo born badminton player has since moved on to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune in India. She represented Nigeria in Kenya in 2009 and in 2010 she was part of the team that represented her fatherland in Uganda where Nigeria competed in three different tournaments.
Playing the game of badminton has impacted positively on Hajara’s life. Apart from national and international exposure which naturally comes with playing for one’s country, she has also benefitted in so many other ways, one of which is her employment into the service of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Maria Hajara Braimah is in a haste to win more laurels because she has no intention to stay on the stage longer than is necessary. She wants to quit when the ovation is loudest and allow the younger ones to take over from her. She wants to quit once she clocks 30. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in India is therefore an opportunity for her to begin the hunt for more medals before retirement.
“I do not intend to play the game longer than is necessary. I want to leave as soon as I am 30 years. I will have to allow the younger ones to take over from me. If others had not quit, I wouldn’t have been here”.
For now, Hajara is having serious fun as she lives her dream as a female badminton star.