KARACHI: The Sydney Marathon, scheduled for August 31, is set to become the seventh ‘ABB World Marathon Major,’ and Pakistani runners are determined to make history with their achievements on this landmark occasion.
Pakistani runners, including those based abroad, will complete their seventh ABB World Marathon Major in Sydney, aiming to establish themselves among the world’s elite marathon runners.The ABB World Marathon Majors are considered the biggest events in long-distance running. So far, the series has included six races: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo. With Sydney officially added in 2025, the series now comprises seven races.
Athletes completing all seven races are awarded a ‘Seven Star Medal,’ which is held by only a select few worldwide.
Among the participants is Karachi’s runner and coach Faisal Shafi, who will mark this milestone not only as a personal achievement but also as a tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and martyrs. He plans to run the race in a lightweight military-style uniform in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record.
Faisal Shafi previously represented Pakistan in the Boston Marathon, wearing traditional shalwar kameez to highlight Pakistani culture. He states that completing the seventh ABB World Marathon Major in Sydney will be a heartfelt tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces.
Islamabad’s runner Bilal Ahsan will complete his sixth major race in Sydney, while Karachi’s 55-year-old businessman and marathon runner Bacha Khan will participate in his third major marathon.The Pakistani contingent in Sydney will consist of over 30 athletes, including 8 women. Among them, seven runners—Dr. Salman Khan (USA), Jamal Khan (USA), Huma Rehman (UK), Fahad Mukhtar (Multan), Faisal Shafi (Karachi), Hameed Butt (Lahore), and Yusra Bukhari (USA)—will be the first Pakistanis to complete all seven ABB World Marathon Majors, earning the ‘Seven Star Finishers’ title.
Notably, the Sydney Marathon was launched in 2001 and has grown to become one of the world’s largest races.
The full list of Pakistani runners participating in Sydney has also been released, including: Dr. Salman Khan (USA), Jamal Khan (USA), Abubakar Muhammad Afzal (UK), Shazia Nawaz (USA), Sajal Ahmed (Sydney), Khola Ahmed (Norway), Faseeh As-Saleh (Norway), Sameena Khan (UK), Huma Rehman (UK), Fahad Mukhtar (Multan), Inas Khawaja (Multan), Faisal Shafi (Karachi), Hameed Butt (Lahore), Muhammad Junaid (Karachi), Bilal Ahsan (Islamabad), Yawar Siddiqui (Islamabad), Nida Yawar (Islamabad), Imran Zafar (UK), Yusra Bukhari (USA), Ammar Mumtaz (Islamabad), Bacha Khan (Karachi), Dr. Ahmed Zubair (UK), Aamir Khan (Austria), Eilia Zaidy (USA), Ali Zaidy (Australia), Ammar Zia (UK), Nilab Kiani (Rawalpindi), Asad Jafri (Sydney), Hammad Ali (UK), Zawar (UK), and Moinuddin (United Arab Emirates).
