Davis Niyoyita arrived in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh as Uganda’s biggest bet for any medal in weightlifting action at the sixth World Islamic Solidarity Games.
But his hopes went crumbling on Sunday afternoon after he posted seventh place in the men’s 60kg category at the Boulevard City 1.
Niyoyita successfully snatched 95kg on the first take and at clean and jerk, he ably lifted 125kg on the third and last attempt to complete with 220 in total.
‘It was okay though I was sick that’s why I didn’t lifted heavier,’ Niyoyita told this paper via phone on Sunday night.
Gold medalist in the 55kg class at the African Games in Accra, Ghana last year, Niyoyita travelled to Riyadh with flue and heavy cough, implying a painful chest at competition time.
‘And I couldn’t take any medication because I thought I would be doped. The competition was ok just I was in pain inside my lungs and nose but I believe next time will better,’
In September, Niyoyita had finished 18th in 60kg competition with 225 at the World Weightlifting Championships at Førdehuset in Førde, Norway.
The 21-year-old hopes he can scale up his prowess to qualify and be selected for the Commonwealth Games set for Glasgow, Scotland in late July.
Like Niyoyita, Faluku Figo Kyambadde came 10th at Boulevard City 1 with 185, snatching 100kg and 125kg in clean and jerk.
Meanwhile, Aisha Namataka will be in action in Riyadh in the 86kg category. The only female Ugandan lifter in the Middle East, Namataka is a three-time national champion and felt undone by a fourth place finish in Accra last year.
Uganda won two medals at the weekend, Alfred Ojok boxing to bronze in the 80kg category while swimmer Gloria Muzito powered to gold in the 50 metres freestyle event.
2025 ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES
ACTION – TUESDAY
WEIGHTLIFTING: Aisha Namataka (86kg)
2025 ISLAMIC SOLIDARITY GAMES
MEN’S WEIGHTLIFTING – 60KG RESULTS
1 Muhammad Husni (INA) 283
2 Burak Aykun (TUR) 267
3 Ali Elsayed (EGY) 265
7 Davis Niyoyita (UGA) 220
MEN’S WEIGHTLIFTING – 65KG RESULTS
1 Muhammed Furkan Özbek (TUR) 310
2 Adkhamjon Ergashev (UZB) 304
3 Seraj Al-Saleem (KSA) 303
10 Faluku Figo Kyambadde (UGA) 185
UGANDA’S MEDALS AT THE ISG
2005 Mecca: Boniface Kiprop (Athletics – 10000 Metres Bronze)
2017 Baku: Halimah Nakaayi (Athletics – 800 Metres Silver)
2021 Konya: Abel Chebet (Athletics – 5000 Metres Silver and 10000 Metres Gold), Kirabo Namutebi (Swimming – 50 Metres Freestyle Silver), Husnah Kukundakwe (Swimming – 100 Metres Breaststroke SB4-SB9 Gold, 200 Metres Individual Medley SM5-SM10 Gold, 50 Metres Freestyle S4-S10, 400 Metres Freestyle S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Backstroke S6-S10 Silver, 100 Metres Freestyle S4-S10 Bronze)
2025 Riyadh: Alfred Ojok (Boxing – 80kg Bronze), Gloria Muzito (Swimming – 50 Metres Freestyle Gold)