Sports
Riyadh 2025: Team Nigeria increases its Gold medal haul after 2 Gold medals in Wrestling and Athletics on Wednesday
Team Nigeria has increased its Gold tally at the ongoing 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh after winning 2 Gold medals in Wrestling and the women’s 4 x 100 metres on Wednesday night.
In 53kg freestyle Wrestling, Christiana Ogunsanya defeated her Uzbekistani opponent, Shokhida Akhmedova 11-1 in the final, in a very convincing version to claim the Gold medal.
Nigeria’s exciting young quartet of Bada Toyin, Ezechukwu Miracle, Omokwe Maria and Nweke Cynthia later crowned the night with an excellent display to win Gold in the Women’s 4 x 100m final in a time of 44.27 seconds.
They condemned Bahrain to the silver medal with a time of 44.47s while the Gambia finished third with a time of 45.05s.
Nigeria also won an additional 2 silver medals and 3 bronze medals.
In the Men’s Javelin throw, Kure Samuel Adams won bronze while in the Men’s 400m, Badmus Atanda claimed a bronze medal. In the women’s 400m, Patience Okon George also finished second behind her Bahrainian opponent while in the men’s 4x100m, the team of John Caleb, Chidera Ezeakor, Ezekiel Asuquo and James Taiwo Emmanuel brought the country home in 3rd.
In Wrestling, Miesinnei Genesis, lost her Gold medal match in the Women’s 50kg freestyle final to Aktenge
Keunimjaeva of Uzbekistan 5-1 to clinch the silver medal.
The Director General of the NSC Hon. Bukola Olopade who was live at the venue of the fight praised the performance of the girls and encouraged them to stay focused and disciplined ahead of other major international competitions.
” I am truly proud of both of you and just know that Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR will continue to expose Nigerian athletes to the best international competitions both home and abroad for podium success”.
” Your performance here means a lot to us and the National Sports commission under the Chairmanship of Mallam Shehu Dikko is determined to ensure Nigeria continues to enjoy the feel good factor of Sports”, he concluded.
Team Nigeria has now won a total of 8 Gold medals 10 bronze and 7 bronze medals with more medals to come in Para athletics and Para-poweifting.
Sports
Team Nigeria Records Best-Ever Performance at Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh
…Finishes 8th on overall standings, secures Africa’s second best placement
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria finished eighth on the medals table with a total of 30 medals, marking its best-ever performance at the Islamic Solidarity Games, while Turkey emerged at the top of the standings.
This year has been a remarkable success for the National Sports Commission, which has supported more than 40 sports federations in attending international competitions, many of whom have delivered outstanding performances and secured medals – the count includes taekwondo, swimming, cricket, para-powerlifting, para-badminton, among others.
Nigeria’s haul, comprised 11 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze, a result that reinforces the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) strategic direction of sending only athletes with strong podium prospects to major international events.
Competing in seven sports, Taekwondo, Boxing, Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Para-Powerlifting, and Para-Athletics, the team delivered an unprecedented outcome, winning medals in every sports they competed in .
Weightlifting led Nigeria’s medal haul with 6 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze, followed by Athletics, which secured 2 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. Wrestling added 2 gold and 2 silver, Para-Powerlifting contributed 1 gold, while Boxing and Para-Athletics each earned 1 silver. Taekwondo completed the tally with 1 bronze medal.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the team’s exceptional outing, stating:
“It is not a coincidence that Nigeria won medals in every sport we participated in at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games. This achievement reflects the new direction we have taken in sports development. After meeting with our team at the Commission and the Elite and Podium Board led by Yusuf Ali, we made a deliberate decision to bring only podium prospects to Riyadh and today, that decision has paid off.”
He added that the performance in Riyadh sets the standard for future international engagements:
“From Boxing to Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Track and Field and Powerlifting, Nigeria secured medals in every sport we entered. This is the new benchmark at the National Sports Commission, guiding our preparations for upcoming competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and ultimately, the Olympics.”
Officials stated that Team Nigeria’s record-breaking finish in Riyadh marks a defining moment in the country’s sporting evolution and strengthens its position as a rising force in global multi-sport competitions.
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