Obiageri Amaechi gave Team Nigeria a strong start in athletics after winning a silver medal in the women’s discus on Day 1 of track and field at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh.
She recorded a throw of 56.99m just 0.05m short of gold winner Nora Monie, who claimed the title with 57.04m. Turkey’s Ozlem Becerek finished with bronze after throwing 55.56m. Nigeria’s national record holder, Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons, placed fourth with 55.08m.
Amaechi’s podium finish boosts Nigeria’s overall medal count to 16 medals: six gold, six silver and four bronze, placing the country eighth on the medal table.
The result also marked a strong comeback for Amaechi after her early exit at the World Championships in Tokyo, where she failed to advance beyond the first round.
Despite missing out on a medal, Onyekwere-Lyons helped solidify Nigeria’s presence in the event, underscoring both athletes’ importance to the nation’s women’s discus programme.
Nigeria entered the Games with a mixed squad after withdrawals from African shot put record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and newly eligible Divine Oladipo. Still, the country fields a competitive lineup across sprints, relays, and field events.
The men’s team features sprinters Chidera Ezeakor, Caleb John, and James Emmanuel, along with long sprinters David Akhalu, Gafari Badmus and Ezekiel Asuquo. In the field events, Samuel Kure and Victoria Kparika will contest the javelin.
For the women, Chioma Nweke, Anita Enaruna, Maria Omokwe, Miracle Ezechukwu, Iyanuoluwa Bada, and veteran quarter-miler Patience George will compete in the sprint and relay events.
The Games, which began on November 7, will run until November 21 at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia.
