Ugandan athlete Dradriga makes 1500m entry at 6th Islamic Solidarity Games

2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (Athletics):

Selected events:

• Men’s 1500m (Round 1) – 11:20 AM

• Men’s 3000m Steeplechase (Finals) – 9:30 PM

• Women’s Javelin Throw (Finals) – 9:45 PM

• Women’s 10,000m (Finals) – 9:50 PM

Monday, 17th November 2025

*At Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium (Malaz Track & Field), Riyadh

Athletics for the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games officially gets underway on Monday, 17th November 2025 at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium (Malaz Track & Field) in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

Uganda’s middle distance athlete Tom Dradriga gets into action at 11:20 AM in the 1500m round one action.

The other athletes in the same race include Saudi Arabia’s Raed Aljiadani,  Salih Teksoz (Turkey), Mohamed Ibrahim Abdinur (Somalia), Nasir Jumah Adam Mohamed (Egypt), Makman Yoagbati, Anass Essayi and Nursultan Keneshbekov.

Dradriga will be followed by Leonard Chemutai (OLY) in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase finals at 9:30 PM.

 “I am more than ready. Here (Riyadh), it is very hot during the day but very cold at night. There have been strong winds in the day and not sure how it will be during the race time. Nevertheless, I am ready” added Chemutai whose personal best is 8:17:14 (Szekesfehervar, 2023).

At 9:45 PM, the Javelin Throw competition (finals) will take place in which Uganda will field Josephine Joyce Lalam shall compete.

Then at 9:50 PM will be the women’s 10,000m (finals). The Chelangat duo of Rebecca and Annet will be Uganda’s representatives in this race.

Uganda’s 17-man team checked into the games village on Friday morning and has since conducted a couple of training sessions in the morning, mid-morning and late evening times.

Before athletics, Uganda has won 6 medals; including two gold, one silver and three bronze.

These have come from Swimming (4), Table Tennis (1) and Boxing (1). Swimmer Anna Gloria Muzito (OLY) has two gold and a silver, Jesse Ssubi Ssengonzi (OLY) has a bronze, boxer Alfred Ojok with a bronze and the female double Table Tennis team with a bronze too.

Uganda Athletics team comes into the games seeking for their first Gold medal and to improve on the 4 medals they have so far.

In the inaugural edition that took place in Mecca and Medina in 2005,

Boniface Kiprop earned Uganda a bronze medal in the 10,000m (28:46.27).

In the 4^th edition that was hosted by Baku in Azerbaijan, Halima Nakaayi won a silver medal in the 800m (2:01.60).

During the 5^th edition hosted by Konya in Turkey, Abel Chebet earned Uganda two medals, a silver in 10,000m (28:31.39) and a Bronze in 5000m (13:54.93).

Chebet comes to Riyadh with intent to improve on his tally of medals as the most successful athlete to the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Uganda Athletics Team composition:

Athletes:

Women:

1. Shida Leni                                        400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
2. Banura Mauren Akiiki                      400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
3. Akwenyi Malvin                              400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
4. Halima Nakaayi                                800m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
5. Aciru Knight                                    1500m
6. Cherop Charity                                 5000m
7. Cherop Risper                                  5000m
8. Chelangat Rebecca                           10,000m
9. Chelangat Annet Chemengich          10,000m
10. Lalam Josephine Joyce                   Javelin

Men

1. Adoli Haron                                      400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
2. Omuka Kenneth                                400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
3. Chanwengo Godfrey                        400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
4. Dradriga Tom                                   800m
5. Chemutai Leonard                            Steeple Chase
6. Cherop Samuel Simba                      5000m
7. Chebet Abel                                      10,000m

Officials

1. Abdallah Muhammed
2. Aluwa Shaban
3. Ali Ngaimoko
4. Aber Lucy Okumu