Zainab Adeshina Motunrayo, a Nigerian boxer, has proudly claimed a Silver Medal in the Women’s 51kg category at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This event took place on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The Islamic Solidarity Games are a multinational, multi-sport event organised by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA). It involves elite athletes from the 57 member nations of the organisation, and the event is held every four years to promote sporting excellence, solidarity, peace, and cultural unity among Islamic nations.
Ms. Zainab is one of the only two Nigerian boxers at the Games. Although she nearly missed the gold prize, her brilliant performance, skill, composure, and grit attracted the nation’s attention. Her silver medal finish places Nigeria 9th on the boxing medal table at the Games, a solid performance that highlights the nation’s growing strength in the sport.
“I gave everything for my country. Winning silver means a lot, but I’m not stopping here. This is motivation to go harder next time, I am coming for gold,” the Nigerian elite fighter said.
Beyond her recent silver medal win, Zainab is a key member of Nigeria’s national boxing team who has represented Nigeria at the World Boxing Qualification Tournaments, including the second one in Bangkok, Thailand. In Bangkok, she won a bout to reach the round of 16 in May/June 2024. She also secured a silver medal in the Women’s 50kg category at the African Games held in Ghana.
