Pakistani runners made a notable impact at the London Marathon 2025, with Furqan Masood of Islamabad leading a strong contingent of over 40 athletes and members of the diaspora in the iconic race. Masood finished in a commendable 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 7 seconds, securing 4,460th place out of more than 56,000 participants.
Masood’s performance was marked by impressive pacing, completing the first 5K in 20:44 and hitting the 10K mark at 42:09. Despite the rising temperatures and fatigue during the latter part of the race, he crossed the finish line with determination. “Crossing the finish line at the London Marathon was a deeply humbling experience,” Masood shared, emphasizing his aim to inspire Pakistanis to embrace running and a healthier lifestyle.
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Other notable performances came from USA-based Salman Ilyas, finishing in 3:18:33, followed closely by Muhammad Fasih Saleh (3:21:54) and Hamza Saleem (3:23:10). Among the women, Amy Mir from Norway completed her first marathon in 3:52:00, despite limited training, while veteran Hamid Butt from Lahore earned his second Six Star Medal by completing his second Abbott World Marathon Majors with a time of 3:41:45.
In the Manchester Marathon, UAE-based Azmat Khan led the Pakistani group with a 3:15:48 finish. Danish Raza and his son Abrar Ahmed from Karachi completed the race together in 4:55, and British Pakistani doctor Ahmed Zubair finished in 6:37:52.
The success of Pakistani runners on these global stages is a testament to the rising passion for endurance sports within the community, showcasing both personal triumph and national pride.
