Bolaji Reaches Final, Nnanna Wins Bronze at World Championship

Eniola Bolaji has advanced to the final of the 2026 Para-Badminton World Championship held in Bahrain, following her victory over Gao Yuan of China in the women's SL3 semifinals on February 13, winning in straight sets 21-12, 21-16. Bolaji, who aims to secure her first world title, will face Japan's Shino Kawai in the final scheduled for February 14.

Throughout the tournament, Bolaji demonstrated impressive form, starting her campaign with a dominant 2-0 win against Australia's Caitlin Dransfield, who is currently ranked world No. 18. She continued her success with a crushing 2-0 victory over Brazil's world No. 10 Adrian Vila in the round of 16 and a comfortable win against France's Milena Surreau before overcoming Turkey's world No. 5 Halim Yildiz in a hard-fought quarterfinal.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Chigozi Nnanna delivered a historic performance in the men's SL4 event, securing a bronze medal after a semifinal defeat to India's world No. 2 Naveen Sivakumar. This achievement marks Bolaji and Nnanna as the first African players to win medals at the Para-Badminton World Championship, following Bolaji's earlier bronze medal win at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

The President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Franci Orbih, expressed pride in their achievements.