Eniola Bolaji has been confirmed as the world’s top women’s SL3 para-badminton player, making her the first African athlete to achieve the No. 1 ranking in the category.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) officially announced Bolaji’s rise to the summit of the global standings on Tuesday, February 17, following a series of impressive performances on the international circuit.
Her milestone was secured after she won a silver medal at the 2026 World Para Badminton Championship in Bahrain. Bolaji advanced to the final before losing 2–0 to Japan’s Shino Kawai on Valentine’s Day, a defeat that nevertheless marked a historic achievement for both Nigerian and African badminton.
Bolaji’s ranking leap was further reinforced by her successful title defence at the Egypt International in January, which helped her accumulate enough points to surpass Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh at the top of the standings.
Her rise continues a groundbreaking career that has consistently set new records. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she became the first African athlete to win a badminton medal at either the Olympics or Paralympics, claiming a bronze medal and signalling Africa’s emergence on the global para-badminton stage.
Francis Orbih described Bolaji’s achievement as one of the biggest moments in Nigerian sports this year, adding that she might have reached this ranking earlier had she competed in more tournaments last season.
“This is the biggest news of the year, with Eniola Bolaji claiming the world No. 1 spot following her participation in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
“She would likely have attained this position earlier if she had competed in more tournaments last year. She regained full stability last season and has carried that momentum into this year with outstanding performances,” he said.
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the National Sports Commissionigeria”], the Abia State Government GIG Logistics, which helped Bolaji compete at the highest level.
Bolaji’s ascent to world No. 1 is a landmark for Nigerian sports and reinforces her position as one of the leading figures in global para-badminton.