Nigeria’s para-badminton duo, Mariam Bolaji, and Nnanna Jeremiah made a strong debut at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, securing impressive victories in their respective women’s and men’s singles matches against Indian and German opponents.
Mariam Bolaji opened her campaign with a (2-0) 21-8, 21-14 win over India’s Mandeep Kaur in the Women’s Singles SL3 event on Thursday at the La Chapelle Arena Court 3 in 29 minutes.
The 18-year-old who previously played para table tennis before discovering badminton will face Australia’s Vinot Celine Aurelie in her final Group B game on Friday. A win for Bolaji will see her progress to the semifinals of the women’s singles SL3 event.
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The SL3 is for players with movement moderately affected on one side of the body, both legs, or the absence of limbs. The athletes play standing on a half-width court and have reduced court movement but a full range of shots.
Her compatriot Nnanna Jeremiah also got off to a winning start with a comfortable beating Germany’s Adam Marcel (2-0) – 21-12, 21-15 in the men’s singles SL4 event at the La Chapelle Arena Court 1 in 28 minutes.
Nnanna’s next Group C game will be against Indonesia’s Setiawan Fredy on Friday. It will be a tough test for the Nigerian against the more experienced Fredy who competed at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Fredy is currently in top form having helped Indonesia beat Japan (2-0) – 21-12, 25-23 in the mixed doubles event alongside Sadiyah Khalimatus earlier in the day.
The SL4 is for players with movement affected at a low level on one side of the body, in both legs or in the minor absence of one limb. They play standing on a full-width court and have good court movement and a full range of shots.
