Contingent includes seasoned marathoners and first-time participants, with 19 male and 4 female runners
\n KARACHI
\nA contingent of 23 Pakistani runners, including 11 from cities across the country and 12 overseas, will be participating in Tokyo Marathon 2024 \u2014 one of the six well-known races worldwide \u2014 on Sunday (tomorrow).
\nThe event will see runners from around the globe compete on a course that weaves through Tokyo\u2019s iconic landmarks, offering a blend of modernity and tradition.
\nThe Tokyo Marathon, established in 2007, has become a hallmark of excellence in the global running community. Known for its meticulous organisation and enthusiastic spectator support, the race starts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and passes through notable sites such as the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and Asakusa before concluding near Tokyo Station.
\nThe race is not just a test of physical endurance but also a cultural experience, with spectators lining the streets to cheer on participants with unmatched enthusiasm. The event\u2019s emphasis on sustainability and community engagement has further cemented its reputation as a world-class marathon.
\nThis year\u2019s Pakistani contingent includes seasoned marathoners and first-time participants, with 19 male and 4 female runners. Among them are Six Star Finishers \u2014 runners who have completed all six World Marathon Majors \u2014 such as Hamid Butt from Lahore and Faisal Shafi from Karachi.
\nFaisal Shafi, who is running the Tokyo Marathon for the second time, said, \u201cI am running to raise funds for Special Olympics Pakistan for the Winter Special Olympics. I\u2019m not eying any personal record; I\u2019m running for our special athletes. Tokyo Marathon has always been my favorite, and I\u2019m very impressed by Japanese culture and that\u2019s why I\u2019m running this race.\u201d
\nKaukab Sarwar, a Karachi-based runner participating in her fifth major marathon, shared her preparation journey: \u201cMy goal is to complete it sub-4. I trained really hard for this during the last 12 weeks, undergoing various running programs to prepare myself. Tokyo is a different kind of experience. The travel was long and has left me a bit tired, but I am still hoping for the best.\u201d
\nBilal Ehsan, an Islamabad-based runner, emphasised his focus on personal achievement and cultural engagement. \u201cI am aiming to have a good race and enjoy the culture of Tokyo. I\u2019ve trained for almost 8 to 9 weeks, and my focus is on achieving my personal best,\u201d he said.
\nThe participation of Pakistani runners in the Tokyo Marathon reflects the growing popularity of long-distance running in Pakistan. Running communities in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have expanded in recent years, with more individuals taking up the sport for fitness and personal challenge.
\nThe Pakistani contingent includes runners based in countries such as the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the global reach of the diaspora. Among the female participants is Khoula Ahmed, a Norwegian-Pakistani runner, and Maheen Sheikh, based in the UK.
\nList of Pakistani participants
\nHamid Butt (Lahore) \u2013 3rd Tokyo | Six Star Finisher\ufe0f
\nFaisal Shafi (Karachi) \u2013 2nd Tokyo | Six Star Finisher\ufe0f
\nMuhammad Junaid (Karachi)
\nKaukab Sarwar (Karachi)
\nHassan Madni (Karachi)
\nAnis Kasmani (Karachi)
\nBilal Saeed (Karachi)
\nAnees Khawaja (Multan)
\nBilal Ehsan (Islamabad)
\nAmmar Mumtaz (Islamabad)
\nYawar Siddiqui (Islamabad)
\nKhoula Ahmed (Norway)
\nSaad Usmani (USA)
\nImran Zaffar (Singapore)
\nJamal Khan (USA)
\nMaeen Ud Din (UAE)
\nM Rizwan Khawaja (USA)
\nAtiq ul Hassan (USA)
\nMaheen Sheikh (UK)
\nSalman Shafi Chaudhry (NYC)
\nImran Ahmed (Norway)
\nYusra Bokhari (USA)
\nShahnawaz Malik (USA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Contingent includes seasoned marathoners and first-time participants, with 19 male and 4 female runners KARACHI A contingent of 23 Pakistani runners, including 11 from cities across the country and 12 overseas, will be participating in Tokyo Marathon 2024 \u2014 one of the six well-known races worldwide \u2014 on Sunday (tomorrow). The event will see runners […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":464613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-464587","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n