Badminton
2026 BWF Para-Badminton: Bolaji Breezes Past Yuan, Qualifies For Final in Bahrain
Nigerian para-badminton sensation Mariam Eniola Bolaji has continued her remarkable rise on the global stage after booking a place in the final of the 2026 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Manama, Bahrain.
READ ALSO: Motsepe Breaks Silence on 2026 WAFCON Host, Schedule
Bolaji, who is ranked world number two in the women’s SL3 category, delivered another composed and commanding performance in the semifinals, defeating China’s Gaoying Yuan 21–16, 21–12.
The straight-games victory underlined her growing authority at the top level of para-badminton and moved her one step away from a world title.
The championships, running from February 8 to 14, are being staged at the Isa Sports City, where Bolaji has been one of the standout athletes of the tournament.
Her journey to the final has been defined by dominance and consistency.
In the quarterfinals, she swept aside Turkey’s Halime Yildiz 21–6, 21–9, barely giving her opponent room to settle into the contest.
Bolaji’s run in Manama caps an outstanding start to the 2026 season.
Just weeks earlier, she successfully defended her crown at the Egypt Para-Badminton International, once again overpowering Yildiz in the final with a convincing 21–10, 21–4 win.
The results reflect an athlete in peak form, combining tactical intelligence with clinical execution on court.
Already a trailblazer, Bolaji continues to build on her historic legacy.
In 2024, she became the first African athlete to win a Paralympic medal in badminton, claiming bronze at the Paris Paralympic Games.
She enters the world championship final as Africa’s number one player and remains firmly established among the global elite in the SL3 category.
Her impact has also been recognised off the court, having recently received the 2024 Africa Women in Badminton Award for her contributions to the sport.
With the final now in sight, Bolaji will be aiming to crown her impressive campaign in Bahrain with a gold medal, further cementing her status as one of Africa’s most successful para-sport athletes.
(function (document, window) {
var a, c = document.createElement("script"), f = window.frameElement;
c.id = "CleverCoreLoader95885";
c.src = "https://scripts.cleverwebserver.com/2777295adab0c8a007d7f8a0312ad6f2.js";
c.async = !0;
c.type = "text/javascript";
c.setAttribute("data-target", window.name || (f && f.getAttribute("id")));
c.setAttribute("data-callback", "put-your-callback-function-here");
c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-click", "put-your-click-macro-here");
c.setAttribute("data-callback-url-view", "put-your-view-macro-here");
try {
a = parent.document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];
} catch (e) {
a = !1;
}
a || (a = document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0] || document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]);
a.parentNode.insertBefore(c, a);
})(document, window);
/* ]]> */
The post 2026 BWF Para-Badminton: Bolaji Breezes Past Yuan, Qualifies For Final in Bahrain appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Badminton
Ndejje University dominates as focus shifts to Week 4 of National Badminton League

The fourth edition of the National Badminton League continued with exciting action at the Lugogo Indoor Arena as clubs and corporate teams battled for crucial points during Week 3, setting the stage for another competitive round later this month.
Ndejje University emerged as the standout performer in the Super League, winning all three of its matches in commanding fashion.
The university side opened the day with a convincing 4-0 victory over Sharing Badminton Club before delivering an even more emphatic 5-0 win against Kampala Badminton Club. They capped off an impressive performance with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Seroma Christian High School, demonstrating both their dominance and resilience.




The three consecutive victories further strengthen NdejjeUniversity’s position as one of the title contenders in this year’s competition.
Super League Results
- Sharing Badminton Club 0-4 Ndejje University
- Ndejje University 5-0 Kampala Badminton Club
- Seroma Christian High School 2-3 Ndejje University
The Corporate League also delivered entertaining matches with several teams making strong statements.
Equity Bank started the day on a positive note with a 3-1 victory over Baryan Badminton Club but later fell 4-1 to an impressive Mbogo High Corporates side.
S.H Badminton Club enjoyed a flawless outing, recording two dominant 5-0 victories against Dream Team and Kampala Badminton Club, respectively.
Mbogo High Corporates also had an excellent day, following their 5-0 win over Kampala Badminton Club with the impressive victory over Equity Bank to underline their credentials as serious contenders.
Corporate League Results
- Equity Bank 3-1 Baryan Badminton Club
- S.H Badminton Club 5-0 Dream Team
- Kampala Badminton Club 0-5 Mbogo High Corporates
- Equity Bank 1-4 Mbogo High Corporates
- S.H Badminton Club 5-0 Kampala Badminton Club
With momentum building and the race for league honours becoming increasingly competitive, attention now shifts to Week 4 of the National Badminton League.





The next round of matches will be played on 27 June at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, where teams will once again battle for valuable points in both the Super League and Corporate League.
Ndejje University will be looking to extend its unbeaten run, while S.H Badminton Club and Mbogo High Corporates will aim to build on their dominant performances from Week 3. Other teams, including Kampala Badminton Club, Sharing Badminton Club and Seroma Christian High School, will be eager to bounce back and improve their standings.
As the fourth edition of the National Badminton League gathers pace, fans can expect another day of high-quality rallies, intense competition and exciting badminton action at Lugogo.
The post Ndejje University dominates as focus shifts to Week 4 of National Badminton League appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Badminton
Badminton Uganda expands grassroots revolution across Teso as teachers and students embrace the sport

The drive to grow badminton across Uganda continues to gather momentum, with Badminton Uganda intensifying its grassroots development programme in the Teso sub-region through extensive training of teachers, students, and technical officials.
Led by Uganda Badminton Chief Executive Officer Simon Mugabe, the nationwide initiative aims to establish a strong foundation for the sport in schools and communities by equipping local educators with coaching and tournament management skills.
Speaking during a training session in Soroti District, Mugabe said the federation has made significant progress in covering the Teso region, leaving only a few districts yet to be reached.
“We are almost done with Teso. Out of the entire region, only a few districts remain uncovered. We started in Serere, moved to Kaberamaido, Katakwi, and now Soroti. The response has been very encouraging,” he said.
The programme focuses on empowering teachers with the knowledge required to introduce, coach, and develop badminton players from beginner level through to competitive participation. However, the latest phase has gone beyond coaching by incorporating training for technical officials.
According to Mugabe, this additional component is a game-changer for the development of the sport.
“We are teaching teachers not only how to train players but also how to officiate and manage tournaments. This means schools and districts can now organize competitions independently and fairly without always relying on Badminton Uganda,” he explained.
The training covers tournament organization, court setup, rules and regulations, officiating, scoring systems, and player development pathways. By building local capacity, Badminton Uganda hopes to establish sustainable structures that will allow the sport to thrive in schools throughout the country.

The Teso programme is part of a wider national expansion strategy that will next move to the West Nile region, covering 13 districts, before extending to South and North Karamoja, Busoga, Central Uganda, and eventually the Western region.
“Our goal is to ensure badminton reaches every corner of Uganda. We want schools and communities to own the sport and drive its growth from the grassroots,” Mugabe added.
For many schools in the Teso region, the training represents an opportunity to diversify their sporting programmes and create new pathways for student participation and achievement.
At Soroti Secondary School, games teacher Susan Alice Achola described the training as a transformative experience.
“In the beginning, Soroti SS did not have badminton as a game. We concentrated on football, netball, and handball. While those games have been competitive, we have not always progressed very far,” Achola said.
She noted that the training has provided teachers with practical knowledge on officiating, equipment use, coaching techniques, and player development.
“We have benefited a lot. Now we have the skills to train our students properly. I believe we shall identify and nurture talent, and in future our learners will be able to compete at much higher levels.”

The enthusiasm was echoed by Samuel Ojula Adonis, a teacher at Light Secondary School in Soroti. Ojula revealed that he had first encountered badminton in the 1990s, but the recent training reignited his passion for the sport.
“This programme has reminded me about badminton and its value. The school is going to benefit because I can now train students and prepare them for district competitions, national championships, and potentially the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Associations games,” he said.
He particularly praised the discipline embedded within the sport. “The footwork, serving techniques, rules, and regulations all require players to be disciplined and attentive. Those are valuable life skills for learners.”
The impact of the programme is already being felt among students who are experiencing badminton for the first time.
Jessica Nafuna, a Senior Two student at Soroti Secondary School, said the training had opened her eyes to a new sporting opportunity.
“I am very happy to have learned about badminton. I have discovered many new skills, and I hope to continue improving. The game teaches us exercise, discipline, and teamwork. I believe I can go far if I continue training.”
For many young people, badminton offers an alternative to traditional school sports while providing opportunities for competition, personal growth, and potentially national representation.

Meanwhile, Lucy Achen described the training as her first practical experience with badminton. “I had heard about the game before, but this is my first time playing it. I have really enjoyed it and I want to learn more about both playing and officiating,” she said.
Achen plans to introduce badminton at her school and believes her background in volleyball will help her adapt quickly to the sport.
“There are similarities in movement and coordination. I am excited to take this knowledge back to my learners and help them discover the game.”
As Badminton Uganda continues its nationwide outreach programme, the federation is laying the groundwork for a stronger and more competitive badminton ecosystem across the country.
With Teso now nearing full coverage and expansion plans targeting West Nile, Karamoja, Busoga, Central Uganda, and the Western region, the federation’s vision of a truly national badminton network is steadily becoming a reality.
The post Badminton Uganda expands grassroots revolution across Teso as teachers and students embrace the sport appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
Badminton
Badminton Ex-internationals, Former State Players Get Opportunities To Coach Nigeria’s National Teams
A number of opportunities have emerged for former badminton players at state, national and international levels to apply as coaches who will consequently take charge of the country’s squads at various levels, Sports247 reports.
The opportunity of becoming a coach of one of the country’s national teams is provided in an open invitation that has been extended by the technical committee of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) to interested applicants nationwide.
Read Also: Jordan Nwora Basketball Camp Is Always Creating Fresh Opportunities For Young Talents – Sam Ahmedu
A long line of requirements and qualifications were spelt out in the notice of job vacancies that has been made public by the BFN, top of which is that the applicant must be an ex-player and not older than 55 years old.
The requirements also include responsibilities relating to safety, administration, ethics, youth development and strategies of coaching, including maintaining a conducive training environment, sportsmanship and accurate performance records.
BFN also noted that, beyond technical expertise, national coaches are expected to serve as mentors, disciplinarians, role models and planners who will contribute to building resilience, confidence, and professionalism among athletes.
A statement by the media department added, “Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has announced vacancies for national coaching positions as part of efforts to reposition the sport for sustained growth and international success.
“In a nationwide call for applications, the federation (revealed that the) available positions include head coach, assistant coach i, and assistant coach ii for the senior national team, junior national team, and para badminton team.
“The coaches will be responsible for designing and implementing training programmes, improving players’ tactical abilities, conducting performance analysis, and preparing athletes for local and international competitions.
“To be eligible, applicants must possess a coaching certification recognized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the Badminton Confederation of Africa (CBA), or a higher qualification.
“Candidates must also have prior experience representing Nigeria or a state at national competitions, with coaching experience at either level considered an added advantage.
“Other requirements include computer literacy, strong communication and mentoring skills, analytical ability, planning competence, flexibility, and adherence to professional ethics. Applicants must not be older than 55 years.”
The post Badminton Ex-internationals, Former State Players Get Opportunities To Coach Nigeria’s National Teams first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post Badminton Ex-internationals, Former State Players Get Opportunities To Coach Nigeria’s National Teams appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
-
News4 months agoCamilla Lamina shows calm leadership even off the bench
-
Football4 months ago
2026 Uganda Cup: The confirmed fixtures, venues & kick off times at round of 32
-
DLSU4 months agoShan Nunag shows composure beyond year in La Salle debut
-
Cricket News4 months agoT20 World Cup 2026: 'We've got to stay positive' – Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott remains hopeful of reaching Super 8 despite back-to-back losses
-
Foreign Pros4 months ago
‘Eric Chelle must pay compensation to quit Super Eagles post’
-
Football4 months ago
Divine Mukasa plays full time as Leicester City bows out of FA Cup to Southampton
-
Others4 months ago
Sarah Babirye Kityo: The majestic return to 12th Parliament, to front sports talent development
-
CAF4 months agoAFCON, Host Country Decisions, and Why African Football Needs an “Imbizo”
