KARACHI: A wave of athletic enthusiasm swept through the city as more than 1,500 runners laced up for the Lifebuoy Global One Run Half Marathon. The event, a major fixture in the community fitness calendar, drew competitors of all ages to test their endurance across three distinct race categories, while virtual participants joined the challenge from across Pakistan.
Organised by Sports in Pakistan, the race day featured a classic 21-kilometer half marathon alongside 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer routes, transforming the city streets into a vibrant corridor of competitive spirit and personal achievement.
Elite Runners Claim Top Honors in Half Marathon
The men’s 21-kilometer race was dominated by Israr Khattak, who crossed the finish line with a commanding time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 17 seconds. The battle for the remaining podium spots was fierce, with Muhammad Sajjad securing second place at 1:19:27, closely followed by Khursheed Ahmed in third at 1:19:52.
In the women’s half marathon, Mumtaz Niamat Khan delivered a stellar performance to clinch first place in 1:51:52. Sidra Dagha demonstrated impressive stamina to finish second in 1:57:36, while Mahnoor Fatima rounded out the top three with a time of 1:58:13.
The 10-kilometer contest saw Raza Muhammad outpace the field with a winning time of 38:33. Amjad Ali followed in 41:48, with Farhan Sahab taking third in 42:38. For the women, Mahnoor Fatima doubled down on her half-marathon success by winning the 10km race in 51:26, ahead of Leena Abid (56:37) and Hafsa Khan (1:04:03).
The 5-kilometer category highlighted emerging talent. Farman Khan won the boys’ race in a swift 18:20, with Saqib Ali (19:10) and Taj Khan (22:58) completing the podium. On the girls’ side, Kainat Khalil seized victory in 22:49, followed by Zaahra Ali (26:09) and Saeedullah Baloch (28:26).
Growing Fitness Movement Takes Hold
Race director Shoaib Nizami reflected on the event’s success as a sign of shifting cultural attitudes towards health and endurance sports in Pakistan.
“We are extremely happy to witness such an incredible turnout for the Lifebuoy Global One Run in Karachi, while runners from across Pakistan also joined virtually,” Nizami said. “It is encouraging to see more people embracing running and fitness. Sports in Pakistan will continue to bring more running events for Pakistanis and further promote a healthy lifestyle through sport.”
The integration of virtual runs allowed the event’s reach to extend far beyond the physical course, connecting a nationwide community of runners and reinforcing the growing popularity of endurance sports as a mainstream fitness activity in the country.
