Amin Mukaty and Sara Lodhi Shine at the 129th Boston Marathon, Making Pakistan Proud

KARACHI (RNN TV) -- Pakistan's running community made a notable impact at the 129th Boston Marathon on Monday, with Amin Mukaty and Sara Lodhi emerging as the fastest male and female finishers from the country in the prestigious race. Mukaty, a 23-year-old runner from Karachi who qualified for the Boston Marathon through his timing, completed the challenging course in an impressive 2:48:47. Known for its grueling Heartbreak Hill, the Boston Marathon proved no match for Mukaty's determination. "Heartbreak Hill couldn't break my heart," he posted on Instagram, reflecting on his remarkable achievement. The Karachi-based duo was followed by Nizar Nayani, Omer Malik, and Sadiq Shah, who was participating in his second Boston Marathon. On the women’s side, 39-year-old Sara Lodhi led the contingent, finishing in 3:24:46. This race marked her ninth career marathon and her fifth World Marathon Major. The UAE-based mother of three shared an emotional reflection on her journey. "As a mother of three girls, it's incredibly important to show them that women can achieve anything they set their minds to," Lodhi explained. "They witness my discipline — waking up at 3 a.m. to train before they’re ready for school." Lodhi also expressed her pride in being part of the pioneering generation of Pakistani women running marathons. "Qualifying and performing well here has been a humbling journey, Alhamdulillah," she said, reflecting on her accomplishments. In another remarkable achievement, six Pakistani runners reached the pinnacle of marathon success by becoming Six-Star Finishers, having completed all the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The runners who earned their Six-Star Finisher medals at Boston include Danish Elahi, Adnan Gandhi, Hira Diwan, Yusra Bokhari, Jamal Khan, and Nizar Nayani. Elahi, who secured his sixth star at the Boston Marathon, reflected on the deeper significance of his achievement. "It means the world to me. This isn’t just a personal milestone; it's a tribute to my family, especially my parents, wife, and kids, whose support has been invaluable throughout this journey," Elahi said. "Its representation for Pakistan on a global platform and to our local running community to inspire the younger generation." USA-based Dr Salman Khan (3:24:45), already a six-star finisher, completed the Boston Marathon for the 5th time. “Seeing all the Pakistani runners in the Boston Marathon is a dream come true for me. With each and every year more and more Pakistanis are representing their country at international venues. This is just wonderful," said Dr Salman, who is also playing an important role in bringing all Pakistani-origin runners from around the world under one platform. Additionally, Bokhari, another six-star finisher, said: "I started running several years ago. After my sister and I ran our first marathon in Arizona - I set a goal to do the six majors by 2023. Covid had other plans. It was a way to stay healthy and travel the world." "It’s been a tremendous journey. I’m excited about completing the six stars - but I’m even more proud of the growing Pakistani and Muslim running communities," she added. The Pakistani contingent showed remarkable depth with thirteen runners achieving sub-four-hour finishes: 1. Amin Mukaty - 2:48:47 2. Abdul Rehman - 2:51:13 3. Nizar Nayani - 3:01:46 4. Omer Malik - 3:05:40 5. Sadiq Shah - 3:12:17 6. Ayaz Abdulla - 3:15:06 7. Salman Ilyas - 3:19:14 8. Dr. Salman Khan - 3:24:45 9. Sara Lodhi - 3:24:46 10. Danish Elahi - 3:26:53 11. Faisal Shafi - 3:26:55 12. Aamer Butt - 3:39:56 13. Jamal Khan - 3:57:56 Other finishers included Hira Diwan, Adnan Gandhi, Qamar Zia, Yusra Bokhari, and Dr. Ravia Bokhari. The Boston Marathon, first run in 1897, remains one of the world's most prestigious marathons, with this year's event featuring around 30,000 participants from around the globe. Pakistan's strong showing demonstrates the country's growing presence in international marathon running. Source: Web Desk