Sports
Record number of Pakistanis to participate in Berlin Marathon 2023
Published
1 year agoon
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FarwaKARACHI: Running a marathon is no easy feat by any stretch of the imagination but an ever-increasing group of Pakistanis have taken it upon themselves to make their country proud in this prestigious field.
While the world waits with bated breath to see whether Eliud Kipchoge can become the only runner to win the Berlin Marathon five times, Pakistan’s largest-ever contingent in a World Marathon Major event will also look to etch their names in the annals of history.
More than 60 Pakistanis are preparing to participate in the Berlin Marathon on September 24, which includes 14 female marathon runners, where they will cover a distance of 42.195 kilometers.
While these marathoners might not get the same attention as cricketers in Pakistan but that doesn’t deter them from achieving their goals.
The Berlin Marathon is renowned as one of the fastest marathons globally, with Kenyan runner Kipchoge setting a world record in 2022 by completing the marathon in 2 hours, 1 minute, and 9 seconds.
Among the participants, 38 are traveling from Pakistan, while several are joining from UAE, USA, Germany, Austria, UK, and Australia.
Notable participants include Muhammad Sajjad, a national athlete, who has previously represented Pakistan in Nepal and Bangladesh and completed the Dhaka Marathon in 2 hours and 42 minutes 41 seconds. Sajjad is now aiming for a new record in his first World Major.
Another standout is Sadiq Shah, the fastest Pakistani runner in the history of the London Marathon, who is competing in Berlin with the goal of surpassing his own marathon time of 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 20 seconds.
Meanwhile, Faisal Shafi is returning for his second Berlin Marathon and is on a path to becoming an Abbott 6 Star finisher next year. Faisal and Sadiq Shah also qualified for the Boston Marathon in 2024.
Along with Faisal Shafi, Muhammad Sajjad, Sadiq Shah, Amin Mukaty and Abdul Rehman are also aiming for new records for Pakistan in the Berlin Marathon.
Women defying the limits
A significant highlight of Pakistan’s participation in this event is the presence of 14 Pakistani female runners from diverse backgrounds. These women are breaking barriers and pushing their limits.
Hira Diwan, a Pakistani British corporate banker and marathon runner, has already completed marathons in Chicago, New York, Paris and Chester, in addition to four London Marathons. The Berlin Marathon will mark her 10th full marathon.
Uzma Abid, a dedicated crossfitter and experienced fitness trainer, brings a remarkable level of physical fitness and discipline to the Berlin Marathon. Notably, she is also a mother of two children, highlighting the incredible balance she has struck between her roles as a parent and a passionate athlete. Uzma Abid’s commitment to running marathons was evident in her participation in the Istanbul Marathon in 2021, where she showcased her endurance and determination on a global stage.
On the other hand, Kaukab Sarwar is a driven full-time corporate executive who juggles her professional responsibilities with her passion for long-distance running. As the mother of a 13-year-old, Kaukab’s journey in marathon running is particularly inspiring. Berlin marks her third World Marathon Major, a testament to her dedication and perseverance. Notably, she has set her sights on the Chicago Marathon, demonstrating her ambition to conquer new challenges and achieve remarkable milestones in the world of long-distance running.
Additionally, Dr. Zahra Hoodbhoy, Shumaila Bukhari, Nadia Rehman, Nada Anwar, Sana Malik, Anum Jehangir and Pakistani British lawyer Shanze Shah are part of this year’s Pakistani Women’s group at the Berlin Marathon.
Sara Lodhi, a UAE based Pakistani athlete who ran the Tokyo marathon earlier this year, is running her first Berlin Marathon. She is brand ambassador of Spartan Arabia, the only Pakistani on the Spartan podium, and also qualified for the Boston Marathon in Munich Marathon 2022.
Dr. Rabia Naeem, an experienced Pakistani pediatrician based in the USA, and Rohela Khan from the UK are also taking part in the event.
Pakistani-American Abbott Six Star finishers take part in Berlin 2023
Three Pakistani-origin Abbott Six Star finishers are attending this event, including Dr. Salman Khan, a nephrologist based in Dallas, Texas, who became the first Pakistani-origin 6 Star finisher in Tokyo earlier this year.
The list also includes Prem Kumar, a US-based Pakistani-American runner, who achieved 6 Star status earlier this year at the London Marathon and Aisha Qamar, a US-based marathon runner.
Rehan Admajee from Karachi who is studying at Harvard Kennedy School of Govt & Harvard Business school is coming to Berlin Marathon aiming for a Boston qualifying time.
Muhammad Junaid, an anchorperson for Geo News, who completed the Boston and London Marathons in April this year, will be running his third World Major in Berlin and his fourth in Chicago next month. He has partnered with the British Heart Foundation UK and St. Jude Children’s Cancer Hospital USA for these marathons.
Increase in number of participants from Pakistan
The credit for this significant participation of runners from Pakistan goes to local running clubs and the supportive environment created by sports organizations in Pakistan. These entities have fostered an environment and support system for individuals to pursue health, fitness, and marathon training.
Notable contributors include the Seaview Runners Club, co-founded by Adnan Gandhi, a fitness professional who has previously completed marathons in Chicago and London.
The Wednesday Night Pacers, another Karachi-based running club, has enabled a substantial number of runners to represent Pakistan in global sporting events. Danish Raza, the founder of this club, will also be running the Berlin Marathon, along with many of his club runners, including Amin Mukaty and Abdul Rehman, who are among the fastest runners from Pakistan.
Bilal Ehsaan, co-founder of the Islamabad Running Club, will also participate in the Berlin Marathon alongside Yawar Siddiqui, Ammar Mumtaz, and Rehman Azhar.
Additionally, a group of enthusiastic participants is set to join the Berlin Marathon, further adding to the Pakistani representation.
Triathlete Miqdad Mohammed is running his first marathon, he has done IRONMAN previously in UAE and Oman.
Ali Khurshid, Shah Faisal Khan, Abdul Samee, Ayaz Abdulla, Zain Anwar, Zohair Agha, Imran Aleem, Irfan Aleem, Ibaad Lari, Jahanzeb Sherwani, Fauzi Gharib, Ahmed Ilyas, Hassan Madni, Anis Kasmani, Adeel Paperwala, Hassan Currimbhoy, Anees Khawja, Dr. Rizwan Khawaja, Dr. Saad Usmani, Ahmer Khan, Muhammad Babar Ali, Azmat Ali, Jamal Khan, Dr. Ahmed Zubair Babar Ghias, Haseeb Usmani and Sheharyar Salam will also be joining the Berlin Marathon.
Journalist Sarah Munir is participating in the Amsterdam marathon, which will be taking place on 15th October.
Journalist and anchorperson Rehman Azhar will be running both the Berlin and Chicago Marathons, while Dr. Salman Khan and Prem Kumar are also returning for the Chicago Marathon.
Dr. Jehannzeb Mughal, who ran the London Marathon earlier this year to raise funds for oral cancer patients in Pakistan, will also be running the Chicago Marathon along with Danish Elahi and Noshwerwan Ali as part of a team.
Meanwhile, Fahd Mukhar has run five of World Marathon Majors, New York Marathon twice and is now set to become Abbot 6 Star finisher in Chicago Marathon.
Bacha Hussain, Rehman Azhar Dr Rabia Naeem, Unaiza Raza, Taha Ghafoor, Imtiaz Ahmed, Babar Ghias and Muhammad Fasih will also take part in the Chicago Marathon.
Their participation reflects the growing passion and dedication of Pakistani athletes on the international stage, further enriching the diverse representation from the country in this prestigious event.
Start and finish area of Berlin Marathon
Event schedule (local time)
Sunday, September 24, 2023
08:50am: Handbiker (Elite)
08:57am: Wheelchair competitors
08:57am: Handbiker
from 09:15am: Runners (in four waves)
Cut-off times
Time limit: 6:15 hours (after passing the time measure mat)
Cut-off point at KM 33 at 3:50pm
Cut-off point at KM 38 at 4:35pm
Participants who are unable to reach one of these points by the indicated time will leave the official course and continue on the sidewalk or ride in the “broom waggon” to the finish.
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Published
6 days agoon
By
FarwaThe 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is expected to be held at three different locations instead of the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as broadcasters suggest due to financial and logistical issues.
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India and Pakistan agree on a neutral venue standard.
India and Pakistan’s cricket boards are said to have agreed on a “fusion formula,” which would allow the two long-standing adversaries to compete in ICC events without having to stage matches in each other’s nations. This is a huge move.
This agreement states that until 2027, Pakistan will play its matches in India in neutral locations, and India will reciprocate for events played in Pakistan. This deal covers the forthcoming ICC competitions, like as the Asia Cup in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026, which India will host.
It is anticipated that the ICC will soon formalize and approve the deal.
Although it is a disappointment for local supporters, the decision to not use Rawalpindi as a location is in line with the practical needs of international broadcasters, as the Champions Trophy schedule is about to be revealed.
Latest News
Following Gillespie’s resignation, Pakistan’s interim baseball coach was Aaqib Javed.
Published
1 week agoon
By
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Saudi Arabia will host the men’s soccer World Cup in 2034, while the 2030 edition will take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional matches in three South American nations, as announced by FIFA on Wednesday (Dec 11).
The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino after a virtual special Congress. The World Cups of 2030 and 2034 each received a solitary bid and were both ratified by acclamation.
“We are expanding football to additional countries, and the increase in teams has not compromised the quality.” Infantino stated that it indeed augmented the opportunity for the 2030 World Cup.
“What more fitting manner to commemorate the centenary in 2030 than to host the World Cup across six nations, spanning three continents, featuring 48 teams and 104 remarkable matches?” The world will pause to commemorate the centenary of the World Cup.
“I extend my congratulations to all the bidders for their impressive submissions, but I wish to formally express my profound gratitude to the six confederation presidents and their teams,” he added.
The joint plan from Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will host the 2030 World Cup over three continents and six nations, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay organising commemorative matches to celebrate the tournament’s centenary.
Uruguay hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1930, and both Argentina and Spain have also organised the tournament. Portugal, Paraguay, and Morocco will serve as inaugural hosts.
In four years, Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern nation to hold the quadrennial event, 12 years after neighbouring Qatar held the 2022 edition.
In 2023, FIFA announced that the 2034 World Cup would take place in the Asia or Oceania area, with the Asian Football Confederation endorsing the Saudi candidacy.
Australia and Indonesia have engaged in discussions on a collaborative candidacy but subsequently withdrew.
FIFA declared that both bids would be unopposed in 2023, eliminating any uncertainty.
On Tuesday, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) announced its opposition to the acclamation of hosting rights and condemned FIFA’s bidding process as “flawed and inconsistent.”
CRITIQUE
Both proposals have faced criticism.
The choice to stage the 2030 World Cup across three continents has been criticised by climate activists due to the heightened emissions resulting from the additional travel necessitated.
FIFA has stated it will implement measures to “reduce the environmental impact.”
The 2034 candidacy by Saudi Arabia has faced criticism due to the nation’s human rights record and arid climate, similar to the scrutiny of the Qatar World Cup.
The climatic conditions in Saudi Arabia will probably necessitate that FIFA schedule the event during the winter months of the Northern Hemisphere, similar to the arrangement made in Qatar.
The World Cup in Saudi Arabia will ignite discussions on the Kingdom’s human rights record and provoke allegations of “sportswashing.”.
Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have implored FIFA to suspend the selection of Saudi Arabia as hosts unless significant modifications are declared prior to the vote.
The Kingdom has made substantial investments in sports in recent years; nevertheless, detractors, notably women’s rights organisations and LGBTQ advocates, assert that it is utilising its Public Investment Fund to obscure its human rights record.
Subsequent to Saudi Arabia being designated as the host of the 2034 World Cup, 21 entities, including Amnesty International, Saudi diaspora human rights organisations, migrant workers’ groups from Nepal and Kenya, and international trade unions, issued a collective statement denouncing the decision.
Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labour Rights and Sport, stated on Wednesday that FIFA’s imprudent decision to grant the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, without guaranteeing sufficient human rights safeguards, will jeopardise several lives.
The nation refutes allegations of human rights violations and asserts that it safeguards its national security via its legislation.
Saudi Arabia, having never hosted a tournament of this scale, must construct eight stadiums for the event.
“We anticipate hosting an extraordinary and unparalleled edition of the FIFA World Cup by leveraging our strengths and capabilities to delight football enthusiasts globally,” stated Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Minister of Sports, declared it a momentous occasion for Saudi Arabia.
“The Kingdom is undergoing a significant transformation under Vision 2030, and today marks another substantial advancement that acknowledges our progress while anticipating an even more promising future,” he stated.