African champion Nigeria’s Mariam Bolaji’s unbeaten run continues in the badminton event of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Friday, August 30.
Competing in Group B of the Women’s Singles SL3, the Nigerian secured her second victory to advance to the quarterfinal stage of the global tournament.
The African champion and world No. 2 showcased her prowess against Australia’s Celine Vinot, achieving a dominant win to become the first African to reach the knockout stage in badminton’s debut at the Paralympic Games.
From the outset, Bolaji controlled the match, winning the first game 21-8. She maintained her form in the second game, overcoming spirited efforts from Vinot to clinch a 21-14 victory, completing a 2-0 sweep. Bolaji remains the only unbeaten player in Group B.
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In her opening group match, Bolaji overwhelmed India’s Mandeep Kaur with a 21-8, 21-14 win, securing another 2-0 victory. Her success has propelled her into the knockout stage, where she will compete against other top players for a spot in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Chigozie Nnanna faced a setback against Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan. After defeating Germany’s Marcel Adam 2-0 in his first group match of the Men’s Singles SL4, Nnanna struggled against Setiawan, losing the first game 21-12. Despite a strong challenge in the second game, Nnanna was edged out 24-22. His fate now hinges on the result of the match between Adam and Setiawan on Saturday, August 31.