Karachi holds Pakistan’s first-ever World Athletics-certified Marathon

Pakistan’s first-ever World Athletics-certified Marathon was held in Karachi on Sunday.

The event saw the participation of hundreds of athletes having followed international standards with proper routes and benchmarks comparable to renowned marathons in cities like London and Paris.

Inauguration ceremony of 1st Karachi Marathon, was attended by Caretaker Minister Sports Sindh, Dr Syed Junaid Ali Shah, along with Pakistan Hockey Olympian & Gold Medalist, the Legend, Islahuddin, Members Organising Committee: Race Director Shoaib Nizami, Director PR & Social Media Strategy Samia Mufti Director Security & Medical Dr Jehanzeb Mughal.

Sohail Amir won the 42.2-kilometre full marathon after completing the distance in two hours, 36 minutes, and nine seconds.

While Israr Khatak finished second and Aamer Abbas secured third in the full marathon event. 

Hafeezul Barkat clinched the 21.1-kilometre half marathon as she completed the distance in one hour, 17 minutes, and 12 seconds. Akram finished second, and Zaher Shah secured the third position in half marathon.

Muhammad Junaid, a Geo News anchor, also participated in the marathon.

Junaid ran a 21.21km distance in one hour, 47 minutes and 51 seconds time period at a 5:05 km/per hour pace.

Interim Minister Dr Junaid Ali Shah also ran the 5KM race today at the Karachi Marathon event.

Tahir Siddiqui sb of DAWN and Minister Dr Junaid Ali Shah also ran the 5KM race today at the Karachi Marathon event with Faizan Lakhani of Geo News. Thank you Naimat Khan for supporting the event @drjunaidshah #Karachimarathon2024 pic.twitter.com/cifcWYpzDN

— Muhammad Junaid (@junaidmuhammadd) January 28, 2024

 

No practice, no training, but managed to complete 5km in 47 minutes. Thank you, @junaidmuhammadd, for motivating me to participate in Karachi Marathon. pic.twitter.com/Qk8r8pZZEh

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) January 28, 2024

Ran my first, officially timed 5k with Karachi Marathon, and met celebrity runner @junaidmuhammadd, but the real medal was posing with the electric bus 🏙️🏅🚍. pic.twitter.com/XReaWsCSDV

— Gulraiz (@gulraizkhan) January 28, 2024

Fantastic first ever certified Karachi Marathon organised by @DrJMughal and @sportsNpakistan Ended up bumping into and running with @ahmeduzair85 pic.twitter.com/v4DzocmEQU

— Aman Nasir (@AmanNasirX) January 28, 2024

good fun, 5k run at the karachi marathon – great weather, well organized and great to see so many peeps enjoying and having a good time – well done to the organizers:) #karachirunning pic.twitter.com/QS7hG6DT6m

— Usman Raza jamil (@ujaydaman) January 28, 2024