Nigeria’s para badminton star, Eniola Bolaji, clinched the gold medal at the 2026 Egypt International Championship, capping a dominant display in Cairo on Sunday.
The Africa No. 1 and world No. 2 para shuttler overwhelmed Turkey’s world No. 7, Halime Yildiz, in the final, sealing a straight-sets victory, 21–10, 21–4, at the New Capital Indoor Hall.
Bolaji’s title run began with a commanding opening-round win over Yildiz, which she took 2–0 (21–9, 21–10), before dispatching India’s Tulika Jadgave 2–0 (21–10, 21–7) in the second round.
She maintained her imperious form against another Indian opponent, Manasi Girishchandra Joshi, winning 2–0 (21–11, 21–13) to advance to the semifinals.
In the last four, the Paralympic bronze medallist proved too strong for India’s Shivam Yadav Neeraj, cruising to a 2–0 (21–10, 21–11) victory to book her place in the final, where she once again asserted her class.
Reacting to the triumph, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, lauded Bolaji’s consistency and impact on the global stage, describing her as a worthy ambassador for the country.
“I am delighted that Eniola Bolaji competed at the Egypt Para Badminton International and won gold again,”
Orbih said. “She started her journey to greatness in North Africa in 2025 and went on to claim almost every available gold medal.
Her performances continue to show that Nigeria can compete and dominate internationally.”
Orbih also expressed optimism about the year ahead for the African champion, while acknowledging the support of key stakeholders in the sport’s growth.
“I believe Bolaji will have an exciting year and continue to bring pride to Nigeria and the federation. I also appreciate GIG Logistics and the National Sports Commission for their unwavering support. Eniola will keep giving her best in future tournaments,” he added.
