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Published 19 May 2021
Fast-rising para-badminton teenage star, Eniola Bolaji, has revealed that the thoughts of her late coach Bello Oyebanji inspired her to victory at the 2021 Spanish Para-Badminton International competition in Cartagena, Spain, The PUNCH reports.
Oyebanji died in a ghastly auto crash along Oyo/Ogbomosho expressway in April, on his way to secure his visa for the Spanish tourney.
One month after Oyebanji’s death, his athlete, Bolaji, made history becoming the first African to win gold at a para-badminton international championship.
She came from a set down to defeat Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna 18-21, 21-14, 21-18 in the final.
Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji made history as the first African to qualify for the final and win gold at a major para-badminton international championship.
She achieved the feat by beating Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna 18-21, 21-14, 21-18 at the 2021 Spanish Para-Badminton International Championships which ended in Cartegena yesterday.
Competing in the Female Standing 3 (SL3) category, the Nigerian lost the first game 18-21. However, she won the last two games 21-14, 21-18 to claim the historic gold medal.
With the victory, she has also qualified for the World Para-badminton Championship coming up in Japan in October.
During the medal presentation ceremony, a minute of applause was held to remember coach/player, Bello Oyebanji who died in a car accident while trying to secure visa for the tournament.
Bolaji wins gold at para-badminton tourney - Punch Newspapers punchng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from punchng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Austin Okon-Akpan
Updated May 16, 2021
Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji poses with other contestants at the medal presentation ceremony in Spain on May 16, 2021.
Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji has made history as the first African to reach the final and win gold at a major para badminton international championship.
Bolaji achieved the feat by beating Ukraine’s Oksana Kozyna 18-21, 21-14, 21-18 at the 2021 Spanish Para Badminton International Championship which ended on Sunday in Cartegena.
Competing in the Female Standing 3 (SL3) category, she lost the first game 18-21 but fought back to win the last two games – 21-14, 21-18, clinching a record-breaking gold medal at the tourney.