Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji etched her name in the history books on Saturday, July 26, after defeating world No. 1 Qonitah Syakuroh of Indonesia to win the 2025 British & Irish Para Badminton International title at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff.

Ranked No. 2 in the world, Bolaji delivered a stellar performance in the women’s SL3 final, edging the reigning Paralympic champion in a thrilling three-set battle: 21-16, 16-21, 21-13. After splitting the first two sets, the decider saw Syakuroh pull ahead early, but Bolaji mounted a stunning comeback, reeling off 10 straight points from 11-13 to seal the victory.

Her journey to the title was dominant. She opened her campaign with a straight-sets win (21-12, 21-18) over Australia’s Celine Vinot, followed by a commanding 2-0 (21-8, 21-18) win over world No. 10 Milena Surreau of France. In her third group match, Bolaji overpowered India’s Sanjana Kumari 21-5, 21-15. She then faced Vinot again in the semifinals, this time crushing the Australian 21-4, 21-8 to book her place in the final.

Saturday’s win marks Bolaji’s fourth international title in 2025, having already triumphed in Spain (I & II) and Egypt earlier in the year.

Reacting to the triumph, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, described Bolaji’s victory as a landmark moment.

“I’m thrilled by this win, especially because she defeated the same player who beat her in the Paris 2024 Paralympic semifinals. It’s a statement of her growth, resilience, and readiness for the global stage,” Orbih said.

He added, “Bolaji’s progress reflects the work being done by the BFN, the Badminton Confederation of Africa, and the National Sports Commission. She’s putting Nigeria and Africa firmly on the world badminton map.”

As she basks in the glory of her biggest win yet, Eniola Bolaji’s triumph in Cardiff sends a clear message—she’s not just a contender; she’s a champion in her own right.