6th Islamic Solidarity Games: Boxer Ojok enters medal bracket, heart break for Adriko

2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (Boxing):

Quarter-finals (Men):

• Light Heavy (80 Kgs): Alfred Ojok (Uganda) 5-0 Mohammad Nourani (Iran)
• Lightweight (60 Kgs): Mahammadali Gasimzada (Azerbaijan) 5-0 Jimmy Adriko (Uganda)

It was celebration for team Uganda at the Promenade Art Tower in Riyadh city on Saturday at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Boxer Alfred Ojok entered the medal bracket after a comprehensive 5-0 win over Iranian opponent, Mohammad Nourani, in the quarter finals of the light heavyweight bout (80 Kgs).

Right from the onset of the bout, Ojok was the player on a mission, scoring with punches rained on the Iranian’s face and chest in the opening round.

Ojok maintained the momentum in the second round and only guarded the assured victory in the third round of the fight, handled by Puerto Rico’s referee Hector Navarro.

When the three-round bout was completed, the writing was well-spelt on the wall, victory for the Ugandan.

Indeed, all five Judges, Kamal Mohamed Abdelsalama (Egypt), Steven John Wade (Australia), Nayak Kumar Rajesh (Indonesia), Jozef Sefranko (Slovakia) and Carlo Franchi (Italy) ruled in favour of the Ugandan who was in the red corner.

“This is a good victory for me as a person and the country,” an overjoyed Ojok told Kawowo Sports moments after the declaration.

“I obeyed the instructions from my coaches of attack from the first go. I also guarded well,” he added.

Ojok qualified for the semifinals, where he is assured of a medal. He faces Turkey’s Sultan Osmanli at 2:45 PM.

In the lightweight (60 Kgs) division, Mahammadali Gasimzada from Azerbaijan stopped Uganda’s Jimmy Adriko by a unanimous decision (5-0).

Boxing aside, Uganda also has representation in these games elsewhere in Swimming (Aquatics), Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Athletics, Para-Powerlifting and Wrestling.

These games have been held since 2005 (Mecca).