Olympics

Paris 2024 Paralympics: BFN President, Orbih, hails Bolaji for bronze medal

President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has expressed joy at the feat achieved by Nigeria’s Para-Badminton prodigy, Eniola Mariam Bolaji, for winning the bronze medal at the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

Bolaji defeated world number two, Ukrainian Oksana Kozyna, in straight sets 2-0 (21-9, 21-9) to becoming the first African to win a medal in para badminton and also bring relief to Nigeria’s sports space. Sporting Tribune reports that the country’s 88-man contingent to the Olympic Games returned empty-handed without winning a single medal despite a humongous N12 billion released by the Federal Government for the global sports fiesta.

An elated Orbih, in an interview with Sporting Tribune at the Package A section of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, said Eniola has not only brought honour to Nigeria alone but the entire continent as she becomes first African “to ever win a medal either at the para or the normal Olympics”.

Speaking on how he feels, the BFN President said, “I will answer that question by telling you, look at my face, look at the smile and you will know how happy I feel. Seriously, every member of the Badminton family, particularly and of course every Nigerian, feels very proud to be associated with this very moment that history has been made. I received so many calls yesterday from all over. The BCA President was screaming on the phone that Africa has made history.

“Eniola was the first African to ever win a medal either at the para or the normal Olympics. It is a moment of joy and we’re very happy. Eniola’s victory is a preparatory ground for something big to happen to Para Badminton in Nigeria.”

Orbih, however, added that the Federation recognised the talent in Eniola and also realised that she needed exposure. He said the Federation will do all within its powers to expose Eniola to as much as international tournaments it can to prepare her for the challenges ahead and make her world champion in no distant time.

“We recognised the talent in her and we also realised that she needed exposure. We refined the talent in her and the only way that could be done was to make her go out there and play. What we needed to do as was to give her enough support, encouragement and expose her to more international play.

“And if at 18 she’s already been able to win a bronze medal, then you can imagine. For me, before the next Olympics, she would have become the world champion because we have the World Championship Para Badminton coming up before the next Olympics and that is what we’ll be working towards. Expose her more to international play.

On the programme of events line up by the Federation, Orbih said, “Something big is about to happen to Para badminton in Nigeria. It’s to announce ourselves on the world stage. I want to also tell you that this year we bidded to host the first international Para badminton championship in Nigeria next year and the world body (the Badminton World Federation, BWF) granted us that hosting right.

“And then, in addition, the African body, (Badminton Confederation of Africa, BCA) decided to give us. This was before Eniola’s performance. So, you can imagine what will happen now that she (Eniola) has done this. So, we are hosting an international Para Badminton championship next year in Umuahia, Abia State. And after that, we are going to host the All African Para Badminton Championship.

“It’s huge, I can tell you. It is the first time Nigeria will be hosting, we’ve never done it before. And because of the impact we have made in the game of Para Badminton in Africa, the BCA feels it is the right time to bring that flagship event for Africa para badminton to Nigeria,” Orbih told Sporting Tribune.