The fiery tale of Nigeria’s
Badminton sensation Mariam Bolaji at the 2024 Paralympics Badminton Women Singles SL3 event has has come end after she lost in to Chinese Xiao Zuxian in the Semi final falling short of gold medal target, Sports247 reports.
Bolaji who made history as the first African to reach the Semi final in the event earlier on Sunday when she defeated Mandeep Maur of India in two straight sets, lost in two straight sets to Xiao 21- 16, 21-17.
The number three seeded Nigerian fought gallantly to rescue the situation in the second set after she dropped her first set in the championship to the number 1 seed Chinese but her efforts fell short as the Xiao got the job done in 40 minutes.
This defeat means Mariam Eniola Bolaji dreams of honouring her late coach by winning the Gold medal in the will remain a dream, but she still found a way to honour the soul of the coach that out her through basics of Para Badminton.
The Nigerian created a scene after she crashed out of the Semi Final earlier on Sunday, an emotional Mariam raised the Portrait photograph of her coach Bello Rafiu Oyebanji who died in a road accident as Bolaji was preparing for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
The 18-year-old held up Oyebanji’s picture before the crowd at the La Chapelle Arena who roared their support and applauded the gesture.
Moments after leaving the court, Bolaji told RFI: “He was my lead coach and he was the one that brought me to the game, I am just trying to honour his soul in any way”.
Holding back the tears, she added: “That’s what I showed his picture.”
Mariam who participated in the mixed event in Tokyo said her loss have taught her a great lesson and promised to be back stronger.
“I was weak at the end but I learned a great deal and will come back stronger, ” said Bolaji.
Bolaji will now shift focus on winning the Bronze as she will play Kozyna in the match for the bronze medal on Monday, and a win for her means she will be the first African to win a Medal in the event.
