Eniola Bolaji has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African athlete to win a medal in Para-Badminton at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

She won a bronze medal in the Women’s Singles SL3 category after defeating Kozyna Oksana of Ukraine with scores of 21-9, 21-9.

Following her victory, which came after a loss in the semi-final match on Sunday, Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh congratulated Bolaji.

He said, “You all can do it for yourselves and for the country. As a ministry, we have made available what you need, make all of the sports-loving people of Nigeria proud of you, fly the nation’s flag very high in Paris. I believe in your capacity. Having done all we should as government, we are rooting for you. It is now over to you to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”

Bolaji’s bronze medal is the first medal won by Team Nigeria in this season’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Paralympics are ongoing, and other Nigerian athletes, including Bolawa Akingbemisiu, Kayode Alabi, and Isau Ogunkule, are set to compete in the Round of 16 table tennis matches today.