By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria’s para badminton star, Eniola Bolaji, continued her impressive rise on the international stage after securing a silver medal at the 2026 British & Irish Para Badminton International in Dublin, Ireland.
The Paralympic bronze medallist and world championship silver medallist finished runner-up in the SL3 women’s singles event after a spirited 21-18, 23-21 defeat to Japan’s Shino Kawai in Sunday’s final at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.
Bolaji’s journey to the final showcased her class and consistency. She opened her campaign with straight-set victories over India’s Neeraj (21-15, 21-3) and France’s Milena Surreau (21-19, 21-13) in the group stage.
The multiple African champion maintained her dominant form in the knockout rounds, defeating Türkiye’s Halime Yildiz 21-16, 21-7 in the quarter-finals before producing another commanding display to dispatch Australia’s Celine Vinot 21-7, 21-9 in the semi-finals.
Although she narrowly missed out on the title, Bolaji’s performance drew high praise from the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, who described her outing in Dublin as another remarkable achievement.
“It was a fantastic performance and I am very happy with what Eniola achieved. I am motivated to intensify efforts to ensure she trains outside the country because it is only a matter of time before she starts beating the Japanese player, Shino Kawai,” Orbih said.
“I have congratulated her for setting the tone once again, and we are looking forward to arranging a three-month training tour abroad to further improve her game.”
Orbih disclosed that the federation is working on plans to secure an overseas training programme for the Nigerian star, believing greater international exposure will help her reclaim the world number one ranking from Kawai.
He also acknowledged the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA), Yonex and GIG Logistics for their continued investment in Bolaji’s development.
With another podium finish on the global stage, Bolaji has once again reinforced her status as one of Africa’s leading para badminton athletes and a strong contender for major honours in upcoming international competitions.
