Pakistani runners delivered impressive performances at the 48th Istanbul Marathon, with Saqib Khan emerging as the fastest Pakistani participant after a remarkable comeback.
The international event took place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, with 18 Pakistani athletes successfully completing the 42.195-kilometre race.
Saqib finished in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 33 seconds, becoming the only Pakistani runner to complete the marathon in under three hours.
Saqib Khan Makes Dramatic Comeback
Muhammad Sajjad initially dominated the contest among Pakistani participants.
He maintained a lead over Saqib from the 15-kilometre checkpoint until the 30-kilometre mark.
At 30 kilometres, Sajjad held an advantage of six minutes and 17 seconds.
However, Saqib dramatically accelerated during the final stages.
He reduced the gap to just 36 seconds at 35 kilometres before overtaking his competitor.
Saqib eventually finished 27 minutes and 56 seconds ahead of Sajjad.
Pakistani Runners Secure Impressive Finishing Times
Muhammad Sajjad completed the marathon in 3:17:29, securing second place among Pakistani runners.
Iqbal Ali Khan finished third with a time of 3:23:58.
Irfan Ali followed in 3:52:47, while Kamran Yousaf recorded 4:02:19.
In the women’s category, Mehnaz Naveed led Pakistan’s participants with a finishing time of 4:52:06.
Sunaina completed the challenging race in 5:59:40.
Kenyan Runner Sets Istanbul Marathon Record
Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the men’s elite competition in a course-record time of 2:08:44.
Ethiopia’s Kasanesh Ayenew Baze claimed the women’s title in 2:24:40.
The Istanbul Marathon is recognized as the world’s only intercontinental marathon, connecting Asia and Europe through the Bosphorus crossing.
