Eniola Bolaji becomes world No. 1 in para badminton SL3 category
Nigeria's para badminton star Eniola Bolaji has risen to world No. 1 in the women's SL3 category after winning silver at the 2026 World Para Badminton Championship in Bahrain. She defeated Indonesia's Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh 2-0 (21-12, 21-17) in the final on 14 February. Bolaji displaced Indonesia's Qonitah to become the top-ranked player, marking the first African silver medal at the championship. Her achievement follows her January victory at the Egypt International, where she defended her title for the second consecutive year. President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, hailed the feat as a landmark moment, crediting structured support for para badminton in Nigeria. Orbih noted Bolaji's resilience despite missing gold and confirmed the federation will continue supporting her preparations for upcoming tournaments.