Bolaji becomes first African to reach Badminton quarterfinals

Team Nigeria athlete, Mariam Bolaji, has booked a place in the quarter final of the women’s SL3 badminton event at the ongoing paralympic games.

Supreme News reports that Bolaji defeated Australia’s Celine Vinot 2-0 (21-8, 21-14), in the women’s SL3 badminton event.

The latest victory is Bolaji’s second in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, earning her a place in the quarterfinals in her first outing at the Games.

Her colleague, Chigozie Nnanna, however lost his match 2-0 to world number 3, Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan, in the SL4 category, on Friday.

The Nigerian gave the world number 3 a run for his money in the first set, losing 24-21, but the Indonesian came out stronger in the 2nd set, winning by 21-12.

Supreme News reports that the duo of Bolaji and Nnanna are the first players from Africa to win a match at the Paralympic Games.