The running community in Pakistan is abuzz with excitement as a considerable number of marathoners gear up for participation in multiple prestigious events over the coming weeks.
On Sunday, 3rd March, 12 Pakistanis will be running in the renowned Tokyo Marathon, followed by more than 10 participants in the Boston Marathon on 15th April and 25 in the London Marathon on 21st April. Additionally, Pakistanis, including Geo News Anchorperson Muhammad Junaid, will be partaking in the Manchester Marathon on 14th April.
Last year’s Berlin Marathon saw a significant surge in Pakistani participation, including notable achievements by Muhammad Sajjad, Amin Mukaty, Abdul Rehman, Sadiq Shah, and Faisal Shafi, with some achieving sub 3-hour finishes.
The increased participation in Berlin also resulted in new Boston Marathon time qualifiers like Ayaz Abdullah, paving the way for Pakistanis to compete in future events.
The surge in running culture among Pakistanis can be attributed to the efforts of local running clubs and overseas Pakistanis.
The positive impact of last year’s marathons is evident in this year’s lineup, with a significant number of amateur Pakistani runners preparing for marathons like the London Marathon right after Eid-ul-Fitr, training even during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Tokyo Marathon, marking the start of the Abbott World Marathon Majors calendar, will see notable Pakistani runners such as Faisal Shafi, Adnan Gandhi, Imran Aleem, and Hira Diwan from the Seaview Runners Club, along with others like Dr. Salman Khan and Nizar Nayani from Texas.
While obtaining visas for Japan posed challenges for some Pakistani travelers, the Tokyo Marathon boasts the highest number of Pakistani participants yet, building on the success of the 2023 race.
The Boston Marathon lineup features returning runners like Dr. Salman Khan and Hamid Butt, alongside newcomers like Sadiq Shah, Huma Rehman, and others.
The London Marathon will witness the largest Pakistani contingent yet, with runners from various cities worldwide, including journalist Rehman Azhar and expats Babar Ghiaz and Jamal Khan, striving to complete their Six Star journey.
The Manchester Marathon, occurring shortly after Ramadan and Eid, will include Muhammad Junaid of Geo News among other overseas Pakistani runners.
In a country where cricket dominates sports, the growing interest in marathon running signifies a promising future, suggesting that Pakistanis may become a formidable presence in the global running community.
