Overview:
By Tuesday morning, Uganda had so far won 7 medals at these games; 3 gold, a silver and 3 bronze.
2025 Islamic Solidarity Games:
Select Results for Uganda (Morning session)
800m men (Heat 1):
- Tom Dradriga (Winner) – 1:49:43
400m women (Heat 2):
- Leni Shida (Winner) – 52:47
400m women (Heat 1):
- Maureen Banura Akiiki (5th) – 54:99
Uganda’s middle-distance athlete Tom Dradriga has qualified for the second final at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dradriga won heat one of the men’s 800m race at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad stadium with a time of 1:49:43 to book a berth in the finals due on Thursday, 20th November.
Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Maghrabi (1:49:47) and Egyptian Ebrahim Alzofairi were second and third, respectively.
“The major objective was to secure qualification to the finals. There is time for the final to recover but I have the finals of the 1500m coming up on Wednesday. I will still deliver to my best,” Dradriga remarked.
On Monday, Dradriga booked a berth to the final of the 1500m after posting impressive times in his heat.
The 1500m men’s final is anticipated to be epic on Wednesday night at 9 pm.
On the same day, Halima Nakaayi will be taking part in her 800m final.
Nakaayi will race in lane 4 against a field with the likes of Haneen Yacoub, Odette Sawekoua, Soukaina Hajji, Nelly Korir, Sabokhat Samijonova and Amal Alroumi.
Meanwhile, Shida Leni also qualified for the final of the women’s 400m race.
Shida won the second heat with a time of 52:47 ahead of Morocco’s Houda Nouiri (52:72) and Guyana’s Nicola Abrams Aliyah (53:01) amid very hot weather conditions.
“It was a great race,” Shida revealed to Kawowo Sports after Tuesday mid-morning’s race.
“The prime target was to qualify for the final, and I have made it. Special thanks to the Lord. Now, I look forward to the final and I will give my best,” Shida, whose season best time is 50:93, added.
The first heat was won by Naser Salwa with a slightly faster time of 52:13 ahead of Nigerian Patience George Okon (52:91) and Morocco’s Salma Lehlali (53:26).
Uganda’s Mauren Akiiki Banura finished fifth in the 7-man heat with 54:99.
Epic Tuesday night in Riyadh:
Haron Adoli will race in the 400m men’s heat 1 at 9:33 PM. In Heat 3 of the same distance, Kenneth Omuka will be competing at 9:47 PM.
The night will climax with the long-awaited 10,000m men’s final starting at 9:55 PM, involving two Ugandans: Abel Chebet and Samuel Simba Cherop.
On Monday, Javelin thrower Josephine Joyce Lalam suffered a heartbreaking blow when she injured her knee during round one and could not complete the competition.
It was tears for Steeplechaser Leonard Chemutai, who finished just outside the medal bracket in fourth position.
Monday night was lit by the gold medal from Rabecca Chelangat in the women’s 10,000m final (32:11:42).
Qatar’s Violah Motosio (32:13:59) took home silver, and Samiya Hassan Nour from Djibouti finished third to settle for bronze with a time of 32:17:72.
Another Ugandan, Annet Chelangat, ran 32:51:33 to take fourth place whilst Qatar’s Ruth Jebet was 5th (33:10:63).
By Tuesday morning, Uganda had so far won 7 medals at these games; 3 gold, a silver and 3 bronze.
Hungary-based swimmer Anna Gloria Muzito has two gold medals (50m and 100 freestyle races); Rabecca Chelangat (gold in 10,000m women’s race), and Muzito with a silver in 200m freestyle.
The bronze has come from Boxing (Alfred Ojok), Table Tennis doubles women team (Parvin Judith Nangonzi and Jemimah Nakawala), as well as swimmer Jesse Ssuubi Ssengonzi (OLY) in the 200m butterfly race.
Uganda has competed in all the Islamic Solidarity Games since Mecca (2005).
Uganda’s Wrestling team is expected to enter the action on Wednesday at the Boulevard Arena.
Para Powerlifter Denis Mbaziira, who arrived in the Games Village alongside his head coach Kenneth Sekilanda on Tuesday morning, will compete on Friday, 21st November 2025.