The top finishers of Pakistan’s first World Athletics-certified long-distance race, Israr Khattak and Sara Lodhi, will represent the nation at the London Marathon 2026 following a sponsorship announcement by Mega Motor Company (MMC), the local partner for BYD.
The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the BYD Karachi Marathon, where Khattak and Lodhi were crowned champions. The event saw participation from over 7,000 domestic runners and more than 120 international competitors from over 25 countries.
Israr Khattak secured the top position in the men”s category with a finishing time of 2 hours and 39 minutes. In the women”s category, Sara Lodhi clinched the title, completing the race in 3 hours and 33 minutes.
Generous cash prizes were awarded to the leading competitors in both male and female categories. First-place finishers received PKR 500,000, while second and third-place runners were awarded PKR 250,000 and PKR 125,000, respectively.
Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan – MMC, stated at the ceremony that the event marked a “proud moment for Pakistan,” positioning Karachi within the global community of world-class running events. He noted that BYD”s vision for a sustainable Pakistan aligns with the spirit of marathon running and that MMC aims to help showcase the country”s “ambition and resilience to the world.”
Shoaib Nizami, CEO of Sports in Pakistan and the marathon”s Race Director, commented on the partnership”s impact. “This is our third year of hosting an event of this scale, and with BYD’s support, we were able to take it to the next level,” he said, crediting the company”s nationwide promotional activities for uniting the running community.
This initiative is part of MMC”s broader strategy of supporting local talent, which includes a previous partnership with the HBL PSL. The company expressed its objective to empower Pakistan’s youth by providing emerging athletes with significant opportunities to compete and grow on an international stage.
The sponsorship is also aligned with Vision 2032, a long-term goal aimed at preparing Pakistani runners to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games. Through this backing, BYD-MMC intends to unlock the potential of local athletes and inspire a new generation of competitors.