Team Uganda reached a new benchmark at the Islamic Solidarity Games after raising their total to 13 medals, the highest return since the event began in 2005.
The latest addition came on Thursday night through 18 year old Samuel Simba Cherop, who continued his standout run on the Riyadh track.
Competing in the men’s 5,000m at Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Bin Abdulaziz Stadium, Cherop produced a composed race to secure bronze in 13:46:45.
He finished just behind Djibouti’s Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim, who took gold in 13:46:12, and Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who claimed silver in 13:46:26.
The result followed Cherop’s silver in the 10,000m earlier in the week and pushed Uganda’s athletics tally to seven medals at the tournament.
Uganda enters the final day of competition with more medal opportunities. In wrestling, Rodger Kizza Mukyeda, also known as Manana, will close the country’s campaign after determined performances from Veronica Ayo and Rebecca Israel Amongi.
In para powerlifting, Dennis Mbaziira will contest the heavyweight class at the Boulevard 01B Sports Arena.
The sixth Islamic Solidarity Games will officially conclude at the Jenadriyah Camel Racing Track on Friday.
