Pakistani runners shine at Tokyo Marathon

KARACHI: Pakistani runners made a strong showing at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, with Bilal Ehsan and Kaukab Sarwar emerging as the fastest male and female participants from the country.

Kaukab Sarwar, a Karachi-based runner, achieved a personal milestone by completing the marathon in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 25 seconds. Not only did she meet her goal of finishing under four hours, but she also became the fastest Pakistani woman in the event. “This was a tough and challenging race for me,” Sarwar said after the marathon. “But the hard work and training ahead of the Tokyo Marathon paid off. I’m glad I achieved my target.”

Sarwar, who has become a role model for aspiring female runners in Pakistan, credited her success to teamwork and support. “I want to thank my running partners and training colleagues for their unwavering support. There was a lot of learning, which I plan to share with runners back in Pakistan,” she added.

Bilal Ehsan, an Islamabad-based runner, completed his fifth World Marathon Major in Tokyo with a time of 3:21:32. Despite facing warm weather, Ehsan’s dedication to training and consistency helped him cross the finish line.

“Glad to complete my fifth Major at the Tokyo Marathon,” Ehsan said. “It wasn’t the best run due to the warm weather, but training paid off. When it comes to marathons, it’s all about consistency.”

The Pakistani contingent at the Tokyo Marathon included 23 runners from across the country and the diaspora. Lahore-based Hamid Butt, a Six Star Finisher, secured the second-fastest time among Pakistanis at 3:30:22, followed closely by Bilal Saeed of Karachi at 3:31:01.

Faisal Shafi, another Karachi-based athlete and Six Star Finisher, completed the race in 3:41:24, while Islamabad’s Yawar Siddiqui finished in 3:48:45. Shafi, who ran the Tokyo Marathon for the second time, aimed to raise funds for Special Olympics Pakistan.

Faisal told this correspondent that Tokyo Marathon was close to his heart and very special to him as he was running for a cause. “My aim this year at Tokyo Marathon was to raise funds for Special Olympics Pakistan for their Winter Olympics participation,” he said.

Other notable performances included Maheen Sheikh, a Pakistani-British runner, who finished in 4:01:27, and Khoula Ahmed, a Pakistani-Norwegian, who crossed the line at 4:04:31. Pakistani-American Yusra Bokhari completed the marathon in 5:12:23.