Nigeria’s para-badminton star, Eniola Mariam Bolaji, has made history by rising to the World Number One ranking in the Women’s SL3 category, the National Sports Commission has announced.

Bolaji amassed 63,950 points to claim the top spot, overtaking Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh, following her silver-medal performance at the World Para Badminton Championships. In doing so, she also became the first African athlete to reach the final of a World Para Badminton Championship.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, described her achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian sports, while Director General Bukola Olopade praised the Badminton Federation of Nigeria for its strategic athlete development and support system.

“If you take care of the athletes, they will always return with medals and global recognition. Eniola’s achievement reflects deliberate planning, proper support, and a merit-driven system. We congratulate her and the Badminton Federation for creating an enabling environment for her success,” Olopade said.

The Commission also acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, highlighting recent milestones in Nigerian sports, including hosting the Davis Cup after 19 years, organizing the Africa Run Conference, and staging another world-class edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Bolaji’s rise adds to her growing legacy. At the 2024 Summer Paralympics, she became the first African para-badminton athlete to win a Paralympic medal, securing bronze in the Women’s Singles SL3 event.

Her ascent to the top of the global rankings is being hailed as a new era of excellence, inclusivity, and competitiveness for Nigerian sports, inspiring a generation of athletes across the continent.