KARACHI: Pakistani runners are set to make their mark on one of the world’s biggest road-racing events, with at least 30 athletes from Pakistan and the overseas Pakistani community preparing to compete in the 2026 Chicago Marathon on Sunday.
The 48th edition of the race, one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, is expected to draw around 55,000 participants from across the world. Runners will cover the full marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres through Chicago’s streets, passing through 29 neighbourhoods along a route known for its relatively flat terrain and fast times.
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Nizar Nayani targets sub-three-hour finish
Among the Pakistani-origin competitors, Houston-based Nizar Nayani is aiming to complete the marathon in under three hours in his fifth appearance at the Chicago event.
“My goal is to go under three hours. The training block has been a little difficult due to the extreme heat in Houston, Texas. Overall, it came along and I feel good,” Nayani said ahead of the race.
Despite having competed in Chicago four times previously, Nayani said returning to the city continued to feel exciting.
“This will be my fifth Chicago Marathon and it still feels like a brand-new race. Love this city,” he added.
Nayani’s target will test his preparation after a challenging training period in Houston’s heat. Chicago’s relatively flat course could offer favourable conditions for a personal-best performance, although race-day weather and pacing will also play important roles.
Read Also: Pakistani Runners Shine at Berlin Marathon
Pakistani contingent includes overseas runners
The Pakistani contingent includes Abdul Lateef, Abu-Bakr Mohammad Afzal, Ahmad Zubair, Aisha Intesar, Amaad Shaikh, Anis Kasmani, Ayman Iftikhar, Babar Javed, Basherri Anjum, Basil Khan, Danyal Ameer Lakdawala, Ghassan Tayyab, Hamid Rashid Butt, Haroon Saeed, Hasan Saleem, Ibrahim Abdul Khaliq, Muhammad Mohsin, Nida Syed, Nizar Nayani, Sadia Sattar, Sara Rathore, Taha Hussain, Taimoor Malik and Zara Ordonez.
Six additional runners of Pakistani origin will compete under other nationalities. They include British-Pakistani runners Hamad Ali, Wardah Mir, Nazakat Ali and Hassan Abbas Ali, along with Chicago-based Pakistani-American Babar Ghias and fellow American-Pakistani Farah Charania.
Hamad Ali will take on another major international marathon just two weeks after completing the Berlin Marathon on September 27, where he recorded a time of 4:17:49.
Meanwhile, Chicago-based Babar Ghias will benefit from his familiarity with the city’s streets. Other Pakistani participants will aim to improve their personal bests or add another major international race to their running records.
Cheering on a runner? Here’s what spectators need to know for the 2026 Chicago Marathon
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A growing presence on the world marathon stage
The Chicago Marathon starts and finishes in Grant Park and is renowned for attracting elite athletes and recreational runners seeking fast times and qualifying standards for other major races.
For Pakistan, the participation of more than two dozen runners in Chicago follows the presence of a sizeable Pakistani contingent at last month’s Berlin Marathon, highlighting the growing visibility of Pakistani athletes in international distance running.
Read Also: Pakistan Hosts Massive Half Marathon as Over 1,500 Runners Hit Karachi Streets
The expanding representation also reflects the enthusiasm of overseas Pakistani communities, where running clubs, organised training and participation in international races have helped more runners take on the marathon distance.
As the runners line up in Chicago, their goals will range from personal milestones to ambitious time targets, adding another chapter to Pakistan’s growing presence in global endurance sports.
