SYDNEY – At least 24 Pakistani and Pakistani-origin runners will take part in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, joining more than 40,000 participants from around the world in one of the major international marathon events.
The Pakistani contingent comprises 19 men and five women, with participants based in Pakistan as well as Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Twelve runners have travelled from Pakistan to compete in the race.
The runners from Karachi include Khalid Sheikh, Dr Jahanzeb Mughal, Naushirwan Ali, Shoaib Nizami, Ali Qazi, Danish Elahi, Hasnain Dharamsay and Yousuf Malik.
The women representing the Pakistani contingent are Kokab Sarwar, Dr Rabia Naeem, Mahwish Bilal, Hira Diwan and Syeda Maimoona Hamdani.
Other Pakistani runners include Ali Zaidi, Amir Butt, Qamar Zia, Junaid Memon, Zain Alam, Naveed Hassan, Umar Rashid, Tabish Mukhtar, Mir Shehzad and Dr Adnan Afzal.
Karachi-based runner Danish Elahi will represent Pakistan in a distinctive way, taking part in the race wearing a traditional shalwar kameez. He said his aim was to promote a positive image of Pakistan and create greater awareness about the country.
Elahi said the Sydney Marathon would be his seventh marathon and that he was excited to take part in the event, describing Sydney as an ideal city for running.
The 42.195-kilometre race will begin in North Sydney and take runners across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through landmarks including The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour before finishing near the Sydney Opera House.
The Sydney Marathon became part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025. With the addition of Cape Town in 2026, the series now comprises eight major marathons.
Former British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis will also participate in the Sydney Marathon, although he is not officially part of the Pakistani contingent. His participation is linked to Pakistan through a fundraising campaign for The Citizens Foundation, which works to promote education in Pakistan.
Nithavrianakis has set a target of raising $1 million through six marathons in 2026. The Sydney Marathon will be the third race in his six-marathon fundraising campaign.
