Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay team delivered the country’s standout moment at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, storming to gold and setting the tone for another strong performance that lifted Team Nigeria’s medal haul to 25 after close of events on Wednesday.
The quartet of Iyanuoluwa Bada, Miracle Ezechukwu, Maria Thompson, and Chioma Nweke combined beautifully to secure Nigeria’s first Athletics gold of the Games, stopping the clock at 44.27s.
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They held off Bahrain, who settled for silver in 44.47s, while Gambia finished third in 45.05s.
Nigeria added more relay success in the men’s 4x100m, where John Caleb, Chidera Ezeakor, Ezekiel Asuquo, and James Taiwo Emmanuel battled to a bronze medal behind Saudi Arabia and Oman.
In the field events, Samuel Kure claimed bronze in the men’s javelin with a throw of 76.01m, finishing just behind Pakistan’s duo of Arshad Nadeem—who dominated with 83.05m—and Muhammad Yasir, who narrowly edged him for silver.
On the track, Gafar Badmus produced one of the day’s best individual performances, equaling his Personal Best of 45.71s to win bronze in the men’s 400m.
He finished on the same time as silver medalist Emmanuel Bamidele of the UAE, separated only by a photo finish. Fellow Nigerian finalist Ezekiel Asuquo pulled up mid-race and did not finish.
Patience Okon-George added another podium finish for Nigeria, claiming silver in the women’s 400m with a time of 51.93s. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser took gold in 51.59s, while Uganda’s Leni Shida secured bronze.
In the men’s 200m final, Chidera Ezeakor returned to place fifth in 20.97s. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme won gold in 20.55s ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Atafi.
Nigeria ended the day ninth on the medal table with 8 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze medals, as the athletes continue to build momentum heading into the final stages of the Games this weekend.
