ISTANBUL, Turkiye: Eighteen Pakistani runners completed the 48th Istanbul Marathon on Sunday, with Saqib Khan emerging as the country’s fastest participant after delivering an impressive performance to finish the iconic race in under three hours.
Saqib clocked 2 hours, 49 minutes and 33 seconds to lead the Pakistani contingent. Muhammad Sajjad finished second among the Pakistani runners in 3:17:29, while Iqbal Ali Khan secured third place with a time of 3:23:58.
Saqib finished 27 minutes and 56 seconds ahead of Sajjad and was the only Pakistani participant to complete the marathon in less than three hours.
Saqib stages strong comeback in closing kilometres
The contest between Saqib and Sajjad changed significantly during the latter stages of the race, according to their adjusted checkpoint timings.
After accounting for their respective start times, Sajjad held an advantage over Saqib from the 15-kilometre checkpoint through to the 30-kilometre mark. His lead stood at one minute and 51 seconds at halfway, increased to two minutes and four seconds at 25K, and reached six minutes and 17 seconds at 30K.
استنبول میراتھون میں پاکستانیوں کی شاندار کارکردگی، ثاقب خان سرفہرست🏆❤️🇵🇰
ترکیے میں منعقدہ 48ویں استنبول میراتھون میں 18 پاکستانی رنرز نے 42.195 کلومیٹر کی ریس مکمل کرلی. ثاقب خان 2 گھنٹے 49 منٹ 33 سیکنڈ میں ریس مکمل کرکے پاکستانی رنرز میں پہلے نمبر پر رہے.! https://t.co/zzHTviDqt3
— Ansar Abbas (@AnsarAbbas3691) November 2, 2026
However, Saqib mounted a strong comeback over the closing stages. Sajjad’s lead had narrowed to just 36 seconds at the 35K checkpoint before Saqib moved ahead by the 40-kilometre mark.
The adjusted checkpoint timings showed Saqib 17 minutes and 43 seconds ahead at 40K. Sajjad’s recorded split between 35K and 40K was 38:29, compared with Saqib’s 20:10.
Saqib eventually finished in 2:49:33, while Sajjad clocked 3:17:29, giving the leading Pakistani runner a 27-minute-and-56-second advantage.
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Irfan Ali was the fourth Pakistani finisher in 3:52:47, followed by Kamran Yousaf in 4:02:19.
Muhammad Asad Siddiqi clocked 4:21:02, while Muhammad Zeeshan Ali finished in 4:28:40. Adeel Mansoor Khan completed the race in 4:39:02.
In the women’s category, Mehnaz Naveed was the leading Pakistani finisher, completing the marathon in 4:52:06. Sunaina was the other Pakistani woman to finish the race, recording a time of 5:59:40.
Muhammad Gulraiz Khan finished in 5:02:43, while Muhammad Asad Khan recorded 5:21:36. Nofel Elahi completed the course in 5:35:11, followed by Qaseem Saeed in 5:42:13 and Muhammad Asher Siddiqi in 5:46:22.
Muhammad Jahanzaib Khan finished in 6:12:01, while Fahad Mansoori and Mohammad Arsal Ayub completed the marathon in 6:14:12 and 6:14:57, respectively.
Dünyanın kıtalararası koşulan tek maratonu ünvanını taşıyan 48. İstanbul Maratonu’nda yarışmak için 143 ülkeden 45 bin 679 kişi kayıt yaptırdı.
Erkeklerde Kenyalı Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba, rekor kırarak birinci oldu.
#pazar #HarfDevrimi #maraton https://t.co/FRD5yWCv0J
— Hafıza (@hafizahabertv) November 1, 2026
Kenyan runner sets course record
Recognised as the world’s only intercontinental marathon, the Istanbul Marathon offers participants a unique route across the Bosphorus, taking runners from Asia to Europe before finishing at Sultanahmet Square.
Read Also: Sabastian Sawe Breaks Two-Hour Barrier to Win London Marathon
Kenya’s Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the men’s elite race in a course-record time of 2:08:44, while Ethiopia’s Kasanesh Ayenew Baze claimed the women’s title in 2:24:40.
The prestigious event holds World Athletics Gold Label status and attracts elite athletes and amateur runners from around the world.
