Nigeria Shines at Islamic Solidarity Games with Multiple Athletics Medals

Nigeria’s medal haul continued to grow at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Ogochukwu Ogili claimed silver in the women’s shot put, while Patience Okon-George advanced to the final of the women’s 400m.

Ogili recorded a best throw of 7.35m, narrowly missing gold to Bahrain’s Rooba Alomari, who threw 7.39m in the penultimate round. Saudi Arabia’s Nadha Alhumayolani secured bronze with a mark of 6.13m, earning Nigeria its second athletics medal of the Games.

The Nigerian team had earlier opened its athletics medal account through Obiageri Amaechi in the women’s discus. Amaechi threw 56.99m to win silver, just 0.05m short of Cameroonian Nora Atim Monie, who took gold with 57.04m. Turkey’s Ozlem Becerek earned bronze with 55.56m, while Nigeria’s national record holder Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons finished fourth at 55.08m. Amaechi’s podium finish offered a redemption following her early exit from the women’s discus at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

In track action, three-time national champion Patience Okon-George progressed to the 400m final after finishing second in her semi-final with a time of 52.92s. She will face athletes from Morocco, Turkey, Niger, Uganda, Bahrain, and Guyana in Wednesday’s final at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Samuel Kure Adams will contest the men’s javelin final with a personal best of 77.45m and a season best of 76.79m, boosting hopes for another medal.

Further medal opportunities await in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay finals on Wednesday. Despite some high-profile withdrawals, including African shot put record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and recently switched Divine Oladipo, Nigeria continues to field a strong squad of home-based and overseas athletes. In the men’s events, Chidera Ezeakor, Caleb John, and James Emmanuel compete in short sprints, with David Akhalu, Gafari Badmus, and Ezekiel Asuquo in long sprints, while Samuel Kure and Victoria Kparika represent the country in javelin. On the women’s side, sprinters Chioma Nweke and Anita Enaruna feature in the 100m and 200m, joined by Maria Omokwe and Iyanuoluwa Bada in sprint and relay events.

With the Games running from November 7 to 21 at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium, Team Nigeria has amassed 17 medals so far—six gold, seven silver, and four bronze—highlighting a strong overall performance across athletics and other disciplines.