Athletics in Pakistan

Many Pakistani athletes have excelled in various global events including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.^[1]

The 1950s and 1960s are often regarded as the Golden Age of Pakistani athletics, with Abdul Khaliq, Ghulam Raziq, Mubarak Shah, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Nawaz, Jalal Khan, Allah Ditta and Muhammad Ramzan Ali achieving various milestones.^[1] In the early decades, Pakistanis held many Asian records including the Asian 100 m and 200 m record held by Abdul Khaliq.^[1]

Other notable athletes include Muhammad Younis, Muhammad Siddique, Mirza Khan, Ghulam Abbas, Nadir Khan, John Permal, Aqarab Abbas, Muhammad Sharif Butt, Khwaja Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Sadaqat, Muhammad Fayyaz, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Malik, Mohsin Ali, Mehboob Ali, Banarus Muhammad Khan, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rashid, Zafar Iqbal, Nusrat Iqbal Sahi, Norman Brinkworth, Muhammad Youssef, Allah Ditta, Muhammad Ayub, Muhammad Yasir and Liaquat Ali who got prominence at either Asian or International levels, winning gold medals for Pakistan.^[2] Haider Ali is Pakistan's most successful para-athlete, holding the distinction of winning the country's first ever Paralympic gold, silver, and bronze medals. He won a silver medal in the long jump in 2008 and a bronze in 2016. He switched to discus throw, an event in which he won a gold medal in 2020 and a bronze medal in 2024. His achievements have made him an icon in Pakistani sports and a source of inspiration for many. He is the first and only Pakistani to have won four medals at the Paralympic Games.^[3][4] Female athletes have also represented Pakistan at the international level, including Shabana Akhtar, who was the first Pakistani female athlete to participate at the Olympics. Among Pakistan's notable women athletes are Naseem Hameed, Najma Parveen, Sadaf Siddiqui, Rabia Ashiq, Shazia Hidayat, Faiqa Riaz and Sumaira Zahoor.

In recent times, Arshad Nadeem is the reigning Olympic champion in Men's javelin throw with an Asian and Olympic record throw of 92.97 metres (305.0 ft) at the 2024 Summer Olympics.^[5] He is the first Pakistani track and field athlete to earn direct qualification for the Olympics under modern entry standards,^[6] and the first Pakistani athlete to reach the final of any event at the World Championships.^[7] At the 2024 Summer Olympics, he became the first Pakistani ever to win an Olympic medal in athletics and the country’s first individual Olympic gold medalist.^[8]

In 2023, he became the first Pakistani athlete to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships, a silver. In 2022, he also created a Commonwealth Games record with a throw of 90.18 m and became the first ever athlete from South Asia to breach the 90m mark.^[9]

Pakistan has hosted several major international athletics events including the athletics competitions at the 1989, 2004 South Asian Games and is scheduled to host the 2027 edition.^[10][11] In 1989, Pakistan's Ghulam Abbas set a games record in the 110 m hurdles, while Abdul Razzaq set one in the 3000 m steeplechase. At the 2004 Games, six games records were set, including Rohan Pradeep Kumara of Sri Lanka in the 200 m, and standout performances by Sangeetha Mohan in high jump and Seema Punia in discus throw. Remarkably, these records remained unbroken even after the 2019 edition, underscoring the lasting impact of these competitions on South Asian athletics.

Pakistan hosted the 2025 SAAF Cross Country Championships on 23rd February 2025 at Fatima Jinnah Park, Islamabad. The event featured a senior men's 10 km and junior (U‑20) 8 km race with athletes from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Pakistan won gold in both categories, followed by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the senior race, and Sri Lanka and Nepal in the junior race.^[12][13][14]

International events such as the Lahore Marathon also take place in the country. It was Pakistan's first international marathon, held on January 30, 2005. It featured approximately 60 elite international athletes from 20 different countries and more than 17,000 total participants.^[15]

The Karachi Marathon, Pakistan's largest international road race, unites local and global runners as part of the Vision 2032 initiative to help Pakistani athletes qualify for major world marathons and the Olympics. The event marks a strategic collaboration to support Pakistan's first World Athletics certified marathon, strengthening the country's presence in global distance running.^[16][17][18]

The Lok Sahaita Marathon, held annually in Sukkur, is Pakistan's second World Athletics recognized marathon, setting a strong international standard for professional road racing in the country. The event attracts elite athletes from Morocco, Ethiopia, Kenya, Canada, Britain, Italy, Japan, and other nations, with participation from over 10 countries. Alongside international runners, thousands of local athletes take part, making it one of Pakistan's largest competitive marathons. In the 2025 edition, organisers reported 28 international athletes and nearly 3,000 Pakistani runners, with Morocco's Alyoussouf Abdelmajid claiming the marathon title, while Kenya's Munyoni Mutoko topped the women's 10K race.^[19]

The Islamabad Marathon, organized by Islamabad Run With Us (IRU), is Pakistan's premier annual road running event that has transformed the capital into a hub for fitness since its full-fledged debut in 2020. It typically takes place in late January, offering a scenic "dream route" that passes iconic landmarks like Jinnah Avenue, D-Chowk, and F-9 Park. While the inaugural event under the "Islamabad Marathon" banner began in 2020, that first edition primarily featured shorter distances like the half marathon. The 2022 race was a historic milestone, as it marked the first-ever full marathon held in the federal capital. To remain inclusive for all ages and fitness levels, the event features five main categories: the Full Marathon (42.2 km), Half Marathon (21.1 km), 10km, 5km, and a Kids' Fun Run. The marathon has gained significant international prestige, frequently drawing thousands of participants from over 30 countries, including elite athletes and the local diplomatic community. Beyond the race, it serves as a massive family festival aimed at promoting a healthy, active lifestyle and projecting a positive global image of Pakistan.^[20][21]

The 1960 Triangular Athletics Meet in Lahore was a major international invitational event featuring teams from Pakistan, India, and Iran. Pakistan won the overall competition, securing 10 out of 20 gold medals. A notable moment occurred when India's Milkha Singh defeated Pakistan's Abdul Khaliq in the 200m dash, leading to Singh being nicknamed the "Flying Sikh".^[22] In this meet, Khaliq won a gold medal in the 100-meter race with a time of 10.4 seconds, a bronze medal in the 200-meter race, and another gold medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay race, clocking 41.5 seconds. This event was depicted in the Indian movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.^[23]

National Athletics Championships is held annually by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan.^[24]