LAHORE (April 20, 2026) — Liberty Chowk became the epicenter of a massive athletic gathering early Sunday morning as over 11,000 citizens and professional athletes competed in the Punjab Chief Minister’s 21-km Marathon and Cycling events. The races, organized by the Punjab Sports Department, featured a diverse range of participants from across Pakistan, including representatives from Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Key Winners and Statistics
Total Participation: 11,000+ athletes (Men, Women, Families, and Wheelchair racers).
Prize Pool: Rs 3.8 million in total cash prizes distributed among winners.
Men’s 21-km Marathon: M. Akhtar (1st), M. Amir (2nd), M. Irfan (3rd) — all hailing from Sahiwal.
Men’s 21-km Cycling: Ali Ilyas of Karachi claimed the title.
Women’s 5-km Cycling: Dominated by Karachi athletes Zainab, Anisa, and Rabia.
More than 11,000 participants joined the CM Punjab National Marathon 2026 in Lahore, featuring a 21km marathon, cycling race, 5km women’s run, 2km family fun race, and a 1km wheelchair race promoting inclusion and healthy living. pic.twitter.com/HuMmTqLeKw
— Pakistan TV Digital (@PakistanTVcom) April 20, 2026
Regional dominance and top performances
The event highlighted strong regional athletic hubs. Sprinters from Sahiwal swept the top three spots in the flagship 21-km men’s marathon, with winner M. Akhtar taking home a Rs 500,000 prize. In the cycling circuit, Karachi showed its strength, with Ali Ilyas winning the men’s race and a trio of Karachi girls—Zainab, Anisa, and Rabia—securing the podium in the women’s 5-km event.
Inclusivity and family participation
The “Khelta Punjab” vision was reflected in the variety of races held:
Wheelchair Race: Ahmed Yar took first place. Notably, Rabia Fayaz was the sole female athlete in this category and was awarded a special prize of Rs 50,000. All wheelchair participants received Rs 10,000 each to honor their participation.
Women’s 5-km Marathon: Mahnoor claimed the top position, followed by Nazia Ehsan and Maria.
Community Engagement: A 2-km Family Fun Race drew citizens of all ages, promoting physical activity as a communal value.
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, who personally competed in the cycling race, emphasized that this event is just the beginning. “We are targeting the registration of 100,000 athletes for our next mega event planned for October/November this year,” he told the media. The presence of former Olympian Shabana Akhtar and top sports officials underscored the government’s commitment to revitalizing local sports infrastructure.
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