By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Nigeria’s Olatoye Oyesade, has rued missing the gold medal as she settled for a silver medal in the women’s hammer throw final at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The US-based star lost the first position to Algeria’s Zahra Tatar after what she admitted as her not too impressive throws in the final attempts.
She claimed the silver medal with a throw of 63.34 metres while Tatar won the gold medal with a throw of 63.55 metres and Norsijovona Zarinakhon of Uzbekistan finished third with a throw of 61.69 metres.
Olatoye Oyesade however, maintained that the silver medal finish at the Games will propel her to step up her preparations for a better podium finish at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
“I am very happy for this competition and the exposure to be here and it will definitely propel me for the Commonwealth Games which I am aiming to finish on the podium after finishing fourth at the last Games in Birmingham”.
“I am really excited for next year and going away with a medal from here is still amazing despite not winning the ultimate prize which is the gold medal.
“It’s been a very long track season with the World Championship in Tokyo expected to end the season but coming here to compete which is our off-season, could be challenging but it’s always a rare privilege and an honour for me to come representing my country anytime,” she stated.
Nigeria’s medal haul currently at the Games stands at a total of 18 medals – 6 gold, 8 silver and 4 bronze.
