Bolaji Rises to World No. 1 After Historic Silver At World Para-Badminton Championship

Nigeria’s para badminton star, Eniola Bolaji, has climbed to World No. 1 in the women’s SL3 category in the recent rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday.
Bolaji moved to the top of the world rankings following her impressive silver medal finish at the 2026 World Para Badminton Championship in Bahrain.
She lost 2–0 in the final to Japan’s world No. 7, Shino Kawai, at the New Capital Hall on February 14.
Bolaji dethroned Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh from the top of the rankings.
Her rise was further boosted by her triumph at the Egypt International in January, where she successfully defended her title for the second consecutive year.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Francis Orbih, described Bolaji’s latest achievement as a landmark moment for Nigeria and Africa, noting that her success reflects deliberate investment and structured support for para-badminton in the country.
Orbih acknowledged the significant role played by key stakeholders in sustaining the growth of para-badminton in Nigeria.
Despite narrowly missing out on gold, Orbih highly praised Bolaji’s resilience and historic accomplishment.
Bolaji’s ascent to World No. 1 marks another milestone in her remarkable journey and further cements her status as one of the leading figures in global para badminton.

PR/Kevin