Pakistani runners made a significant impact at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, with notable performances by Bilal Ehsan and Kaukab Sarwar.
Sarwar, a Karachi-based runner, completed the race in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 25 seconds, achieving her goal of finishing under four hours.
Kaukab Sarwar described the race as challenging but credited her training and the support of her running partners for her success.
Bilal Ehsan, based in Islamabad, marked his fifth World Marathon Major by completing the race in 3:21:32, despite the warm weather.
While expressing happiness, Ehsan attributed his success to consistent training, noting that marathons are about persistence.
Other Pakistani participants included Hamid Butt, who secured the second-fastest time among Pakistanis at 3:30:22. Faisal Shafi completed the race in 3:41:24 while raising funds for Special Olympics Pakistan.
Pakistani women runners, including Maheen Sheikh (4:01:27) and Khoula Ahmed (4:04:31), also contributed to the country’s strong presence at the event.
The marathon saw international dominance, with Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele winning the men’s race and Sutume Asefa Kebede triumphing in the women’s category.
| Runner | Time | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilal Ehsan | 3:21:32 | Islamabad | Fifth World Marathon Major |
| Hamid Butt | 3:30:22 | Lahore | Second-fastest Pakistani |
| Bilal Saeed | 3:31:01 | Karachi | |
| Faisal Shafi | 3:41:24 | Karachi | Raising funds for Special Olympics |
| Kaukab Sarwar (F) | 3:52:25 | Karachi | Fastest Pakistani woman |
| Maheen Sheikh (F) | 4:01:27 | Pakistani-British | |
| Khoula Ahmed (F) | 4:04:31 | Pakistani-Norwegian | |
| Yusra Bokhari (F) | 5:12:23 | Pakistani-American | |
| Saad Usmani | 6:12:34 | Pakistani-American | Six Star Finisher |
