Sports
Eniola Bolaji Stuns World No. 1 to Clinch 2025 British & Irish Para Badminton International Title
Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji has won the 2025 British and Irish Para Badminton International, held at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff on Saturday, July 26.
The world No. 2 claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory (21-16, 16-21, 21-13) over Paralympic champion and world No. 1 Qonitah Syakuroh in the women’s SL3 final.
Bolaji started strong, taking the first set 21-16, but Syakuroh responded with a 21-16 win in the second. In a tense third set, Syakuroh led until 13 points before Bolaji surged ahead from 11 to win 21-13 and secure the title.
Her campaign began with a 2-0 (21-12, 21-18) win over Australia’s Celine Vinot in Round 2. She then defeated world No. 10 Milena Surreau of France 2-0 (21-8, 21-18), followed by another dominant 2-0 (21-5, 21-15) win over India’s Sanjana Kumari.
In the semifinals, Bolaji faced Celine Vinot again and delivered an emphatic 2-0 (21-4, 21-8) victory to advance to the final, where she clinched her biggest international title to date.
An elated President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, described Eniola Bolaji’s victory as a testament to her hard work and perseverance.
Orbih noted that defeating the world No. 1, whom Bolaji had previously lost to in the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, shows she is ready for greater challenges ahead.
He said, “I am excited with this victory because she just defeated the world number one, whom she lost to in the semifinals of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“Bolaji has shown significant improvement, and we hope she maintains this momentum heading into the next Paralympic Games. BFN, BCA and the National Sports Commission are proud of her continuous efforts in putting Nigeria and Africa on the global badminton map.”
Sports
Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Congratulates Oguntimehin On Election As Fct Swan Chairman
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters Association (NVRA) has congratulated Tolu Oguntimehin on his election as Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter.
NVRA described his emergence as an opportunity to strengthen sports journalism and advance the welfare of members.
Oguntimehin emerged victorious at the FCT SWAN elective congress held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, defeating his challenger, Raphael Ekpang, by 88 votes to four.
In a congratulatory message, the Chairman of Nigeria Volleyball Reporters, Alhaji Ganiyu Oloyede described the election outcome as a testament to the confidence reposed in Oguntimehin by members of the association.
Oloyede expressed optimism that the new chairman would bring purposeful leadership, inclusiveness and renewed commitment to the development of sports journalism in the FCT.
He stressed that the responsibility of leading the association goes beyond occupying an office.
Oloyede noted that the new administration must prioritise members’ welfare, professional development, unity and the protection of their collective interests.
The NVR chairman also challenged the incoming leadership to create an enabling environment where sports journalists can thrive professionally, gain greater access to sporting events and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigerian sports.
He particularly welcomed Oguntimehin’s commitment to establishing a ₦200 million financial base for the association, describing the proposed initiative as an ambitious step towards building a financially stronger and more sustainable SWAN FCT.
Oloyede further emphasised the importance of collaboration among sports journalists, sports federations, government institutions and other stakeholders, maintaining that stronger partnerships would create more opportunities for members and improve the quality of sports reporting.
He urged the new executive to embrace transparency, accountability and open communication while ensuring that every member feels represented in the administration.
The Nigeria Volleyball Reporters reaffirmed its readiness to work with the new SWAN FCT leadership in promoting sports journalism, strengthening professional relationships and projecting Nigerian sports positively.
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