Paralympics: Nigeria’s Badminton Star Bolaji Eyes Podium Finish Despite Semi-final Loss

Paralympics: Nigeria’s Badminton Star Bolaji Eyes Podium Finish Despite Semi-final Loss

Nigerian Para badminton sensation, Eniola Bolaji, on Sunday, lost her semi-final match in the Women Singles SL3 category to Xiaoc Zuxian of China,at the ongoing Paralympic Games in France.

Zuxian defeated Bolaji with a 2-0 victory (16-21 and 17-21).

The match was played at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris.

The African record holder put in a brilliant performance, but lost to a more experienced Zuxian.

The tournament number three seed, betrayed emotion after the game, crying and displaying the photography of her late coach.

Bolaji made history as the first African to play in the knock-out stage of Para-badminton.

She overwhelmed Mandeep Kaur of India in the quarterfinal by 2-0 (21-8 and 21-9) to book the semi-final slot. Despite the semi-final loss, she has the opportunity to clinch the bronze medal in the third-place game on Monday.

The minister of sports development, John Enoh, told journalists after the match that Bolaji lost due to inexperience.

“I watched the game from the start, we are all very disappointed that she lost because she appeared to be better than her opponent.

“She lost the game herself, maybe due to her first Olympic experience and the stakes are high.

“But in all, she did well and we hope she can pick up the bronze in the third place match,” Mr Enoh said.

Bolaji will on Monday play Kozyna Oksana of Ukraine in the third place match.

Oksana lost to Synakuroh Ikhtiar of India 2-0.