30 Pakistani Runners Set for New York City Marathon
Thirty Pakistani and Pakistani-origin runners will take part in the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1. The race marks the 50th anniversary of the event’s five-borough course, and the Pakistani group includes runners from Karachi and Islamabad alongside diaspora members based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Singapore.
Two of the group, Karachi’s Sadiq Shah and Geo News anchor Mohammad Junaid, will chase a major personal milestone in New York. Both aim to complete their collection of all six Abbott World Marathon Majors medals, and four runners in the group already hold that distinction.
New York City Marathon: who is running for Pakistan
The Abbott World Marathon Majors comprise Tokyo, Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin and New York City. A runner who finishes all six earns the Six Star medal, a mark that reflects years of training and travel to some of the world’s largest races.
Jamal Khan, Dr Saad Usmani, Yusra Bokhari and Fahd Mukhtar are the four Six Star holders in the Pakistani group. Sadiq Shah and Mohammad Junaid hope to join them in New York. Sadiq has set himself a sub-three-hour target for the race. He said that finishing all six majors under three hours would make him the first Pakistani to do so. He also said his preparation was decent, though training in extremely hot conditions had made it tough, and his goal is to break three hours rather than chase a personal best, because the course is demanding.
Several members of the group bring deep experience of the New York race itself. Aamar Butt, who has links to New Jersey and Lahore, will run the race for the ninth time. Jamal Khan is set for his fifth New York appearance, while Fahd Mukhtar of Multan will run it for the third time. Three members of the group, Aamar Butt, Fahd Mukhtar and Danish Raza, are also Ironman athletes.
A group drawn from many walks of life
The 30 runners cover a wide range of jobs and backgrounds. Yusra Bokhari, a Six Star holder, is an attorney. Bsherri Anjum is a doctor based in New York. At least three medical doctors are in the group, including Dr Saad Usmani, who works in myeloma cancer research.
Women form a clear part of the group as well. Alongside Yusra Bokhari, the women running include Bsherri Anjum, Aylia Zaidi, Hina Malik, Semeena Khan, Jihan Khan, Kaleena Soorma and Asma.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, the Pakistani runners also took part in the Parade of Nations, joining runners from around the world to mark the international character of the event.
The course they will face
The New York City Marathon covers 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometres, through all five boroughs of the city. Runners start on Staten Island near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and finish in Central Park after passing through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.
The bridges, the changing terrain and the hard closing miles make pacing vital, above all for runners chasing a time target. Sadiq’s plan to aim for sub-three hours rather than a personal best reflects that reality.
Pakistani distance running has built a steady record at the world majors in recent years. Feature Pakistan reported on Nizar Nayani leading Pakistani runners at the Chicago Marathon and on Masood Khan completing a 1,850km run from Peshawar to Karachi.
What happens next
Frequently asked questions
When is the New York City Marathon 2026?
The TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and it marks the 50th anniversary of the race’s five-borough course.
How many Pakistani runners are in the New York City Marathon?
Thirty Pakistani and Pakistani-origin runners are set to take part, from Karachi and Islamabad and from diaspora communities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Singapore.
Which Pakistani runners are chasing the Six Star medal?
Sadiq Shah and Mohammad Junaid aim to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors in New York, joining Jamal Khan, Dr Saad Usmani, Yusra Bokhari and Fahd Mukhtar, who already hold the Six Star medal.
How long is the New York City Marathon course?
The course is 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometres, from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx to the finish in Central Park.
