Pakistani Runners to Compete in London Marathon 2025

As the sun dawns in London this Sunday, a resolute group comprising 30 Pakistani and Pakistani-origin athletes is set to participate alongside over 50,000 individuals in the 2025 London Marathon. Among them, considerable attention will be focused on Hamid Butt, a 64-year-old from Lahore, poised to achieve a historic milestone as the first Pakistani to twice complete the esteemed six-star marathon accomplishment, having previously conquered all six World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York).

This diverse assembly of competitors highlights Pakistan’s increasing involvement in international marathon running, with participants originating from various nations including the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. Numerous athletes are arriving in London displaying resolve despite the physical toll of recently finishing the Boston Marathon.

Hira Diwan, a UK-based runner who participated in the Boston Marathon just six days prior with fellow Pakistani-origin runners Salman Ilyas and Aamer Butt from the U.S., stated, “I participated in London last year and I remember noticing individuals donning their Boston jackets arriving to collect their London bib, I was hoping to do the same one day”. She further commented on her swift advancement in the sport, “And it came true the very next year.”

The London event carries particular importance for British-Pakistani diversity advocate Semeena Khan, who is scheduled to run her sixth London Marathon while fulfilling her role as Community Lead for Muslim Runners UK.

Among the participants from Pakistan, Karachi-based TV personality Mona Khan will be present at the starting line after an intensive training schedule alongside her demanding media commitments. Under the guidance of fellow participant Muhammad Yousuf Malik, Khan’s path to London has involved significant personal compromises. She expressed, “For Pakistani runners, every track is a battlefield, and we run wholeheartedly. I have opted for shorter hair for convenience, my arms have become darker due to sun exposure during runs, and I’ve sustained injuries to my knee and elbow… but I remain committed to running. Nothing will deter me.”

The marathon signifies a personal accomplishment for Furqan Masood from Islamabad, who represents the Islamabad Running Club. His evolution from a recreational runner to a marathon participant reflects the expanding running culture in Pakistan. Masood remarked, “Tomorrow, I will be at the starting line of the London Marathon 2025, joining 55,000 runners globally. Three years ago, I joined IRC, and what began as a simple fitness regimen transformed into a mission — to foster resilience, motivate others, and demonstrate that determination leads to success.”

For Hira Mufti, a 42-year-old British-Pakistani mother of three and a first-time marathoner, Sunday’s race embodies both a personal challenge and a tribute to her heritage. Mufti explained, “As a proud Pakistani Muslim and mother of three, I am running to honor my late father, without whom I would not be where I am today. He imparted the invaluable life lessons of resilience, endurance, compassion, love for humanity, and love for my country.” Mufti also emphasized the symbolic significance of her run, noting, “Of course AGE IS IMPORTANT I’m 42 and running 42 km to mark each wonderful year of my life.”

The Pakistani contingent also features athletes such as Norwegian-Pakistani runner Amy Mir, whose marathon participation is part of a more extensive athletic pursuit. Mir shared humorously, “Actually I started Running when I was born. I never sat where my parents left me, or peacefully enjoyed sitting with both legs on a chair. My sport career started with soccer, sprint on track or trailrun while hiking, muay thai, river kayaking, triathlon, skiing as expedition with sled, and now high altitude mountaineering. Marathon is just a stop along my journey. Journey to K2 summit, in 2026, inshAllah.”

Complete List of Pakistani and Pakistani-Origin Participants in the 2025 London Marathon:
  1. Semeena Khan (UK)
  2. Amy Raza (USA)
  3. Ayesha Akhtar (USA)
  4. Hira Mufti (UK)
  5. Saniya Zafar (UAE)
  6. Hira Diwan (UK)
  7. Muhammad Yousuf Malik (Pakistan)
  8. Muhammad Fasih Saleh (Norway)
  9. Shazia Nawaz (UAE)
  10. Hamid Butt (Pakistan)
  11. Salman Ilyas (USA)
  12. Aamer Butt (USA)
  13. Hamad Ali (UK)
  14. Imran Zaffar (UK)
  15. Adnan Ozair (UK)
  16. Raja Arif Ullah Khan (Saudi Arabia)
  17. Faisal Saif (UAE)
  18. Abu-Bakr Mohammad Afzal (UK)
  19. Furqan Masood (Pakistan)
  20. Hamza Saleem (Pakistan)
  21. Atiq Ul Hasan (USA)
  22. Raees Ebrahim (USA)
  23. Zawar Khan (UK)
  24. Nadeem Iqbal (UK)
  25. Taha Ghafoor (UK)
  26. Mona Khan (Pakistan)
  27. Junaid Memon (USA)
  28. Khalid Sheikh (Pakistan)
  29. Kamran Abbasi (UK)
  30. Amy Mir (Norway)