WAPDA Lead National Athletics With 41 Medals
Water and Power Development Authority have tightened their grip on the 54th National Athletics Championships, securing 41 medals, including 19 gold, after three days of competition at NED University in Karachi. The WAPDA National Athletics Championships campaign has left the department well clear of its rivals, with the Higher Education Commission second and Pakistan Navy third.
According to the medal tally compiled from the first three days’ results, WAPDA athletes have won 19 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals, maintaining a commanding lead over their competitors. The Higher Education Commission occupies second place with 26 medals, comprising six gold, 11 silver and nine bronze, while Pakistan Navy stands third with 12 medals, including six gold, three silver and three bronze.
WAPDA National Athletics Championships: day three in Karachi
Sindh is fourth in the gold-medal standings with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals, while Punjab has collected seven medals, including four silver and three bronze. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has secured one silver and one bronze, Police two bronze and Pakistan Air Force one bronze.
The third day of the championships witnessed a closely contested battle between WAPDA, HEC and Pakistan Navy, with all three teams claiming four gold medals each. That balance on the day did not change the overall picture, since WAPDA’s lead had already been built over the first two days.
In the men’s marathon, Pakistan Navy’s Shahzaib Maseh claimed gold with a time of 2:48:48. Sindh’s Rais Khumar secured silver, while Police athlete Ahmad finished third. The marathon is one of the most demanding events on the programme, and Maseh’s win gave Navy a bright spot on a day when WAPDA dominated elsewhere.
Standout performers on day three
Pakistan Navy’s Amtul Rehman emerged as one of the standout performers of the day, winning two individual gold medals. She topped the women’s heptathlon with 3,608 points before securing another gold in the triple jump with an effort of 11.77 metres. A double gold across a multi-event discipline and a jumping event is a rare feat, and it underlined Navy’s depth in women’s athletics.
WAPDA’s Hazrat Umer won the men’s 400m hurdles in 55.06 seconds, while Nazia claimed the women’s 800m title in 2:25.10. WAPDA also demonstrated its strength in team events, winning both mixed relay competitions. Its athletes secured gold in the 4x400m mixed relay with a time of 3:39.10 and the 4x100m mixed relay in 44.50 seconds. HEC claimed silver and Pakistan Navy bronze in both events.
HEC’s Kinza Sarfraz won the women’s 400m hurdles in 1:05.40, while Khadija Mehreen claimed gold in the women’s discus throw with an effort of 34.76 metres. HEC also celebrated victories in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, where Khubaib clocked 9:41.16, and the decathlon, where Abu Bakar finished first with 5,294 points. Pakistan Navy’s Abdullah Nawaz secured gold in the men’s discus throw with a distance of 51.05 metres.
Why WAPDA’s depth matters
WAPDA’s lead is built on breadth rather than a single star. Golds have come in hurdles, middle-distance running and both mixed relays, while the department’s silver and bronze count shows athletes reaching finals across the programme. That depth is hard for rivals to match, since it requires squads in track, field and combined events at the same time.
The department’s sports programme has long been one of Pakistan’s most reliable producers of athletes, and the Karachi medal table reflects that investment. HEC’s second place, built on university athletes, shows the value of the education pipeline, while Navy’s third place rests on strong individual performers such as Amtul Rehman and Maseh.
For the smaller teams, the championships still offer a platform. Sindh’s gold, Punjab’s seven medals and the bronze medals for Police and Pakistan Air Force show that medals are spread beyond the top three, even if the overall title looks settled.
What happens next
With WAPDA holding a wide lead, the remaining days will decide the minor placings and the individual titles still up for grabs. HEC and Navy will fight for second place, while Sindh and Punjab will aim to add to their tallies. The championships also serve as a form guide for selectors, who watch for athletes capable of stepping up to international competition.
