Badminton
Eniola Bolaji Dominates Women’s SL3 at Abia National Open Para Badminton Championship
Nigeria’s top-ranked para-badminton star, Eniola Bolaji Mariam of Kwara State, reaffirmed her dominance with a flawless performance in the Women’s Singles SL3 category at the 5th Abia National Open Para Badminton Championship, held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia.
Over two days of intense round-robin action, Bolaji lived up to her billing as the undisputed queen of the SL3 class, winning all four of her matches without dropping a single game and conceding just 15 points across eight games—a near-perfect record that underscored her superiority.
Eniola Bolaji Mariam of Kwara State remains invincible
She opened her campaign in ruthless fashion, whitewashing Oriemezie Joy of Imo State 21–0, 21–4. She followed up with an equally commanding 21–1, 21–2 victory over Anna Nyam of Plateau State.
Her dominance continued with a 21–2, 21–5 win over home favourite Odinaka Uwalaka of Abia State, before wrapping up her campaign by brushing aside Blessing Iroanya, also of Abia, 21–2, 21–1.
Despite her loss to Bolaji, Imo State’s Oriemezie Joy emerged as a standout performer in her own right, finishing second in the group.
Joy displayed grit and experience, posting three wins from four matches. She began with a confident 21–8, 21–1 win over Iroanya and followed up with a solid 21–11, 21–10 triumph over Anna Nyam.
In a tightly contested match against Uwalaka, Joy held her nerve to secure a 21–17, 21–14 victory that guaranteed her the runner-up spot.
Abia State’s Odinaka Uwalaka delivered a mixed bag of results. She opened with a narrow three-game loss to Joy (18–21, 21–15, 15–21) and was overwhelmed by Bolaji, but rebounded with convincing wins over Iroanya (21–6, 21–9) and Nyam (21–17, 21–14), finishing third overall.
Anna Nyam endured a difficult outing, managing just one win—a hard-fought contest against Iroanya—to finish fourth.
Meanwhile, Blessing Iroanya, despite her spirited efforts and crowd support, ended her campaign winless, but with valuable experience from each match.
The 5th edition of the Abia National Open Para Badminton Championship continues to highlight the growing depth and competitiveness in Nigeria’s para-badminton scene.
As the curtains begin to draw on this year’s event, Eniola Bolaji’s dominance remains the gold standard, setting the pace for aspiring stars across the nation.
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The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a two-day outreach training held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Organised in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the State Ministry of Education, and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Adamawa chapter, the training took place on 24 and 25 September 2025 at the General Murtala Mohammed College hall.
A total of 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students from the Yola area participated in the intensive programme, which aimed to introduce badminton to schools and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The training was facilitated by a team of five coaches led by George Shitta, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Taraba State Sports Commission. Participants were taken through the fundamentals of badminton, including grip techniques, footwork, serving, stroke execution, game strategy, and proper warm-up routines.
According to the organisers, the programme was part of the BFN’s ongoing partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which has supported similar “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” sessions across the country over the past three years. These sessions are designed to help teachers and students learn the game together while fostering teamwork, discipline, and social development.
The trainees actively engaged with the coaches — asking questions, sharing experiences, and demonstrating newly acquired skills. At the end of the programme, each participating school received badminton kits, including rackets, shuttlecocks, and nets, to help sustain practice beyond the training.
The Director of the Adamawa State Sports Council, Mr. Daniel Ahmed, graced the event, while the lead facilitator, George Shitta, paid courtesy visits to key education stakeholders — Hajiya Aisha M. Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Birsan Panuel, Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
Organisers described the initiative as a model of effective collaboration among sports authorities, education agencies, and development partners — a partnership they hope will continue to enhance both the academic and athletic growth of teachers, coaches, and students in Adamawa State.
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The curtain fell on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, with host nation Nigeria making the podium and the event earning praise as a model for sports tourism in Africa.
Though global heavyweights dominated the finals, Nigeria’s Obanisola and her partner gave the home crowd reason to cheer by clinching bronze in the Women’s Doubles, ensuring the green and white were represented on the podium.
Elsewhere, India’s S. Lele defended her Women’s Singles crown with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over compatriot Kashyap, while Russia’s neutral duo Alimov and Ogloblin sealed Men’s Doubles gold against UAE’s Ravikrishna and Rimdahoi.
Tournament organizers hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Lagos International Badminton Classics has once again proven that Nigeria is ready to host world-class sporting events,” said Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN). “We are building a brand that showcases Africa’s talent, hospitality, and passion for badminton.”
With $17,500 prize money shared among winners and athletes praising the hospitality of Lagos, the championship reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing profile as a hub for global sports. The 9th edition in 2026 promises an even bigger spectacle.
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Indonesia stamped their authority on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics, turning the Teslim Balogun Stadium into a stage of triumph as they swept multiple gold medals on the final day of action.
From the opening Mixed Doubles clash to the showpiece Men’s Singles final, the Southeast Asian powerhouse asserted its dominance.
The pair of Prasetyo and Munggaren set the tone by defeating India’s Ravat and Maneesha 21-15, 21-17, before P. Shujiwo powered past Japan’s M. Koga 21-15, 21-17 in a pulsating Men’s Singles final.
The Indonesians celebrate in style
The Women’s Doubles final confirmed Indonesia’s superiority, with Meida and Nastine dispatching UAE’s Quathun and Sreejithparol in just 25 minutes (21-18, 21-7), the shortest contest of the evening.
The highlight of the celebrations came as Indonesia’s national anthem echoed repeatedly through the Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall, with Ambassador Bambang Suharto personally presenting the Men’s Singles trophy to Shujiwo — a moment that underscored the national pride attached to the victories.
With three golds and several silver finishes, Indonesia emerged as the undisputed star nation of Africa’s premier badminton competition.
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