Uganda’s women lit up the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium in Riyadh on Wednesday night as Halima Nakaayi, Shida Leni and teenage prodigy Charity Cherop powered the country to three medals.
The trio delivered silver, silver, bronze in a memorable evening that underlined Uganda’s rising strength in women’s athletics.
Nakaayi set the tone with a gritty run in the 800m, taking silver in 2:03.14 after a close duel with Kenya’s Nelly Korir, who won in 2:02.59.
The 2019 world champion was full of gratitude afterwards. Morocco’s Hajji Soukaina settled for bronze.
Soon after, Shida Leni added another medal with a composed performance in the 400m final, clocking 52.72 to secure bronze behind Bahrain’s Salwa Naser and Nigeria’s Patience George Okon.
It marked Leni’s first major podium of the season and reaffirmed her consistency on the regional stage.
But the night belonged to 18-year-old Charity Cherop, who announced herself with a fearless run in the 5000m, taking silver in 15:47.01.
She finished just behind Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, while Djibouti’s Samiya Hassan Nour claimed bronze. Fellow Ugandan Risper Cherop placed fifth.
Elsewhere, Haron Adoli narrowly missed a medal in the men’s 400m, finishing fourth in 46.66, while Tom Dradriga came 11th in the 1500m.
By Thursday morning, Uganda’s medal tally at the Games had climbed to 12, with more action expected in athletics, wrestling and para-powerlifting, where Denis Mbaziira competes on Friday.
