Nigeria experienced a mixed day on the track at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, where Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong stormed to victory in the women’s 100m final on Tuesday.
The Nigerian born Odiong produced a dominant performance, clocking 11.17s to clinch the gold medal ahead of Cameroon’s Kolle Tonjock, who settled for silver in 11.38s. Suriname’s Keliza Ashley Smith completed the podium with a time of 11.59s.
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Team Nigeria’s sprinters, Chioma Nweke and Iyanoluwa Bada, were unable to break into the medal positions. Nweke finished fifth in 11.69s, while Bada placed seventh after posting 11.81s.
Despite the setback in the women’s sprint, Nigeria recorded encouraging results in the men’s events.
In the 400m heats, quarter-milers Ezekiel Asuquo and Gafari Badmus booked their places in the final with impressive runs.
Asuquo clocked 46.97s to finish second in his heat, while Badmus secured third place in his heat with a time of 46.48s.
Nigeria also enjoyed a standout performance in the men’s 200m, where the country’s sole representative, Chidera Ezeakor, delivered a new Personal Best (PB).
He raced to 20.72s to finish second in his heat, and a place in the final.
He trailed only Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Atafi, who won in 20.60s
With several athletes advancing and form improving, Team Nigeria will look to translate these promising performances into medals as the athletics programme continues in Riyadh.
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