Naser Lights Up Riyadh Ahead of 400m Final

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The women’s 400 metres took centre stage at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh as athletics continued at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser comfortably advanced through the opening round, securing her place in tonight’s final.

Naser, the reigning Asian record holder and one of the event’s most decorated athletes with a world title, an Olympic silver, and multiple Diamond League crowns, controlled Heat 1 from the gun. She crossed in 52.13 seconds, establishing a clear lead over Nigeria’s Patience Okon George (52.91) and Morocco’s Salma Lehlali (53.26), both of whom also advanced.

The second heat produced similarly quick times, led by Uganda’s Leni Shida in 52.47 and Morocco’s Houda Nouiri, who posted a personal best of 52.72. Bahrain’s Zenab Mahamat finished in 53.85, outside the qualification spots in a tightly contested field.

With the preliminary round completed, attention now turns to tonight’s final, where Naser will start from lane six. She will face Shida, Nouiri, Okon George, Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams and the rest of the qualifiers in what is expected to be one of the marquee races of the athletics programme.

As Bahrain continues its push across both athletics and para athletics, Naser’s appearance in the final marks a key moment in their campaign — and a chance for the 400m specialist to add another major result to an already distinguished career.