Over 53,000 runners from across the globe are set to compete in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, and among them will be more than two dozen Pakistani athletes, hailing from cities in Pakistan as well as from abroad.
One of the most notable participants is veteran marathoner Faisal Shafiq, who will run in Chicago for the second time. This year, he carries a mission beyond personal achievement: to raise five million Pakistani rupees for families affected by recent floods in the country. Those funds will be distributed through a United Nations relief program.
In an interview with media prior to departure, Shafiq said, “This time I will run not just for a personal milestone; the marathon is a platform to draw attention to serious issues.” He added, “People in our country are still reeling from the devastation of floods, and everyone should come forward and help.”
Shafiq has recently completed the Sydney Marathon and joined a select group of athletes who have earned the “Seven Star” distinction. He also holds a Guinness World Record for completing a marathon in military uniform in record time.
The Chicago Marathon is among the seven “World Marathon Majors,” known for its flat, fast route and scenic course. It first began in 1977, and its start and finish lines are located at Grant Park. The route passes through 29 neighborhoods, including landmarks such as Lincoln Park, Chinatown, Wrigleyville, and the Loop.
From Karachi, runner Sana Malik, after a year-long break, will contest the full marathon. In 2022, she finished her first marathon in Amsterdam in 4 hours and 52 minutes; the following year in Berlin, she shaved her time to 4:04. Malik says she is aiming to break that 4:04 mark in Chicago.
Dania Ali, also from Karachi, is competing in her first major marathon. She trained under a coach who has previously raced in Chicago and says she faced limitations in Pakistan: “We had to run on the roads of Zamzama Park and DHA; just putting on the shoes and stepping out is not easy,” she said. She added that during long runs, she ensures someone is always nearby so she’s not running alone.
Other notable Pakistani athletes joining the Chicago lineup include Yasir Memon, Shah Faisal Khan, Yawar Siddiqui, Bilal Umar, Saeed Ashan Ejaz, Tajdar Iqbal, Saud Hamid, Dr. Safdar Ali, Dr. Fareed Sheikh, and Syeda Maimoona Hamdani.
In the overseas Pakistani contingent, participants include Imran Zafar, Maheen Sheikh (UK), Salman Ilyas, Usman Sarwar, Abbas Naqvi, Omar Shafiq, Nazar Nayani, Ateeq ul Hasan, Ayesha Qamar, Babar Ghias, Adnan Afzal, Rizwan Khawaja (USA), Khawla Ahmed (Norway), Shazia Nawaz (UAE), and Raja Arif Khan (Saudi Arabia).
As Sunday’s race approaches, Pakistani runners are not just chasing personal bests but running with purpose — carrying a message that their performance matters and that Pakistan continues to be represented proudly on the world sporting stage.
