Karachi makes history by hosting Pakistan’s first certified marathon.
Despite the windy winter conditions and the harsh sea breeze, both runners and spectators remained undeterred, with hundreds of people cheering as the participants crossed the finish line during the historic Karachi marathon
Even with the cool breeze, Sohail Aamir Kathia found himself sweating profusely as he crossed the finish line amidst the applause of spectators gathered to witness Pakistan’s inaugural marathon certified by the Association of International Marathon and Distance Races (AIMS).
The marathon was similar to marathons held in London, Paris and other major world cities, offered a seamless blend of athleticism and urban vibrancy as hundreds of participants from all walks of life attended it from the very onset.
A representative from Australia had visited Pakistan to measure and certify the marathon track. There was use of chips on runners’ aprons to provide accurate results and timings also these certified results will be accessible to World Athletics and other marathons with qualification requirements.
More than 1,500 athletes from different countries and age groups took part in the full marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1km), 5k (5km), and marathon relay which saw each participant complete one quarter of the full distance.
It will be Sohail’s name, though, which will go down in the record books as the inaugural winner of the Karachi marathon after he crossed the finish line in two hours and 36 minutes, ahead of Israr Khattak with Aamir Abbas taking third place.
Hafeez ul Barkat triumphed in the half marathon after finishing in 1:17:12 while Mumtaz Naimat from Gilgit-Baltistan, running her first marathon, showed great heart to cover the same distance in 1:50:12 and take the women’s title.
Sohail — who won the Lahore marathon last year — broke away in favourable conditions early when the race kicked off at day break at the Nishan-e-Pakistan and maintained the supremacy despite Israr’s pressure who was looking for a lapse, which never occurred.
The second placed runner Israr, who was some 250m behind when Sohail finished, attributed Sohail’s victory to his superior training.
Hafeez, 18, was also very pumped after winning the half-marathon 11 seconds ahead of Mohammad Akram (1:17:23) with Zahir Shah a further 16 seconds behind.
In contrast, the women’s champion Mumtaz, who finished six minutes ahead of 13-year-old Dua Nazakat (1:56:07) with Sarah Muneer third (2:01:58), said that she doesn’t priorities the diet so much as it’s hard to compete professionally due to lack of sponsors in the sport.
The 19-year-old also said that she made her new year’s resolution to participate in the marathon and she is blessed to win the competition.
Running Enthusiasts :
But apart from the competition, there were others who took part for their love of running and fitness. Among them a number of foreigners such as Dmitry Petrov, who’s an official of the Russian consulate and South African Andrew Bennie, aged 55, also took part in the half-marathon and also enjoyed the event thoroughly. Additionally, a group from Japan, including Makoto Endo, joined in the event.
Shoaib Nizami, CEO of the Sports in Pakistan agency, orchestrated the event expressed his views about the event. He said that currently, the corporate sector predominantly invests in just one or two sports. However, following the success of this event, it is hoped that private sector support will broaden.
The launch of Pakistan’s first marathon signifies a step forward in promoting a culture of fitness, sportsmanship, and community engagement. As participants from different backgrounds come together to challenge themselves, the event is expected to inspire a new wave of interest in athletics and healthy lifestyles across the country.
