Islamic Solidarity Games: Sade Olatoye wins Nigeria's second athletics medal on Day 2

Team Nigeria athletes continued with their medal-winning streak on Day 2 of athletics at the Islamic Solidarity Games, as Sade Olatoye claimed the silver medal in the women's Hammer Throw event.

The multiple African championships medallist succumbed to the supremacy of Algeria’s Tatar Zahra, the reigning African and African Games champion, who won the gold medal on her last attempt.

Zahra entered the competition in formidable shape, having recently surpassed the 70-meter mark for the first time in her career with a 70.82m throw.

She is one of only three African women to have achieved this milestone - the other two being former Nigerian thrower Annette Echikunwoke, who now competes for the USA, and Olatoye herself, who has a season-best of 70.27m and has now thrown over 70 meters for three consecutive years.

During the final, Olatoye started strong with a 60.58m effort to take an early lead. However, Zahra, after two initial fouls, responded decisively in the fifth round with a winning throw of 63.55m. Olatoye's attempts to regain the top spot were unsuccessful, as she recorded fouls in her final two throws, leaving the 33-year-old Algerian to claim the gold medal.

Meanwhile in the track events, several Team Nigeria athletes advanced to their respective finals.

Patience Okon George qualified for the women's 400m final by finishing second in her heat with a time of 52.91 seconds, behind 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser (52.13), who is the favorite for the title.

In the men's 400m, Ezekiel Asuquo will represent Nigeria in the final after clocking 46.97 seconds to place second in his heat. His compatriot, Gafari Atanda Badmus, finished third in his heat with a time of 46.48 but did not advance.

Chidera Ezeakor is the nation's sole finalist in the men's 200m, securing his spot with a personal best time of 20.72 seconds in his semifinal heat.