Mariam Eniola Bolaji arrived in Paris as the name to beat in women’s singles SL3, having won six of her last seven tournaments. The Nigerian had a sound start at her first Paralympics, beating India’s Mandeep Kaur in straight games, and declared that she was in pursuit of a medal to dedicate to her late coach Bello Rafiu Oyebanji, who died in a motor accident three years ago.

Oyebanji was a coach, BWF Shuttle Time Tutor, and Africa’s No.1 SL4 player. Having started playing Para badminton in 2014, he became a pioneer in its development, training and encouraging younger players to take up the sport.

Bolaji remembered that it was Oyebanji’s dream to have her participate in and medal at the Paralympics.

“This is amazing, it’s something I’ve dreamed of,” Bolaji said. “I was training for Tokyo 2020 in mixed doubles but I lost my coach. So it is an honour for me to be here.

“I’m happy because it’s a dream for me. It was my coach’s dream as well; he was the one who brought me up. I have to win the medal, because I have to dedicate it to him.”

Bolaji has had a phenomenal run over the last year. She won the Uganda PB International, won a triple crown at the Africa Championships, and signed off 2023 with a title in Dubai. This year she continued in the same vein, beginning with a triple crown at the Egypt PB International. A surprise quarterfinal loss at the World Championships was the only one she would suffer in a year, for she bounced back with back-to-back titles in Spain.

One of the reasons behind her successful run has been her training stint with a club in Spain since November last year.

“I won the Uganda International in 2023 so BCA (Badminton Confederation of Africa) organised a camp and my coach in Spain was invited to the Para badminton course, and she invited me to Spain,” Bolaji says.

“In Nigeria I have to take a cab from my house to the stadium, but in Spain I just have to walk two minutes to the stadium. I play with professional players at the club, so that has helped me. Sometimes we travel to other clubs to train and play.”

Despite going into the Paralympics as favourite, Bolaji shows no sign of feeling the pressure and exuded confidence.

“I’m fully prepared, so the (opening) match was fine by me. The first game was very easy,” she said.

“I’m very confident because everyone in my category is afraid of me.” She then added after a hesitant pause: “and I’m afraid of them.”

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