BOSTON: More than a dozen runners from Pakistan and the overseas Pakistani community are set to participate in the 130th Boston Marathon, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon events, scheduled to take place on Monday.
The marathon, traditionally held on Patriots’ Day, attracts elite athletes from around the world. This year, participants from 137 countries are competing, with over 30,000 runners taking part. More than 24,000 runners qualified based on official qualifying times.
Pakistani participants include athletes from Pakistan as well as the diaspora in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and other countries.
Among the notable participants is Karachi-based police constable Amjad Ali, who qualified for the Boston Marathon based on his performance at the Karachi Marathon. He has expressed his determination to achieve a personal best in the upcoming race.
Amjad Ali previously emerged as Pakistan’s fastest runner in the 2024 Istanbul Marathon in Türkiye. He stated that his training was carried out on the streets of Karachi with strong support from his colleagues and running community.
Another prominent participant is Dr. Jahanzeb Mughal, a maxillofacial surgeon and social activist from Karachi, who will earn his sixth World Marathon Major star upon completion of the race. He said his goal is to complete the marathon injury-free, while also highlighting his charitable work, including supporting free oral cancer surgeries in Karachi.
