2024 Paralympics : Sports Minister congratulates Eniola for wining Nigeria’s first medal
..Charges Team Nigeria to keep going for victory
Honourable Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh has congratulated Mariam Eniola Bolaji on her victory earlier today.
She earned ‘Team Nigeria’ its first medal at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the Para badminton Women’s singles SL3 event by defeating Kozyna Oksana of Ukraine 21-9, 21-9 in the bronze medal match.
Eniola has become the first African to win a medal in para-badminton .
Senator John Enoh was on hand to encourage her and charged her to be calm and take charge of her next game against Ukraine after she lost the semi-final match on Sunday.
The minister reminded her that she is the first African to come this far in para-badminton and she needs to make a mark as she plays for bronze, to win for her late coach Bello Oyebanji,herself, and for the country.
Senator Enoh reiterated to all athletes at the Paralympics to be enthusiastic for victory: “You all can do it for yourselves and for the country. As a Ministry, we have made available what you need, make all of the sports-loving people of Nigeria proud of you, fly the nation’s flag very high in Paris. I believe in your capacity.
“Having done all we should as a government, we are rooting for you. It is now over to you to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”
This medal is the first medal to be won by ‘Team Nigeria’ in this season’s games of the Olympics and Paralympics 2024.
The Paralympic games are ongoing; Bolawa Akingbemisiu, Kayode Alabi, and Isau Ogunkule are to take on their opponents in the Round of 16 table tennis on the same day.