A total of Rs9 million has been allocated as prize money for medal winners.

KARACHI: Sindh’s Mahnoor Fatima won the women’s 5,000-metre race walk title as the 54th National Athletics Championship got underway at NED University of Engineering and Technology on Thursday.

Mahnoor clocked 32 minutes and 32.40 seconds to secure the gold medal in the event. WAPDA’s Ammara Manawwar claimed silver, while Punjab’s Sawera finished third to take bronze.

“It is the first day of the National Athletics Championship, and I won a gold medal for Sindh in the 5000m race walk,” Mahnoor said.

She thanked the organisers for holding the championship and acknowledged her coaches Nadia, Shahbaz and Abdullah for their support and guidance.

WAPDA’s Waqas Wins Men’s 20km Race Walk

In the men’s 20-kilometre race walk, WAPDA’s Waqas claimed the gold medal.

Muhammad Younis Khan of the Navy secured silver, while WAPDA’s Muhammad Gulfam finished third to take bronze.

Rs9 Million Prize Money Announced

Sindh Home Minister Zia Hussain Lanjar was scheduled to inaugurate the championship at 5pm on Thursday.

The event is being held under the supervision of the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) and organised by the Sindh Athletics Association (SAA), with support from Lok Sahaeta.

A total of Rs9 million has been allocated as prize money for medal winners.

Athletes From Across Pakistan Take Part

Teams representing the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Air Force, Navy, Railways, Police, the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan are participating in the championship.

Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem, national 100-metre record holder Shajar Abbas and Sindh’s international sprinter Moeed Baloch are among the prominent athletes expected to draw attention during the competition.

The championship brings together athletes from across the country to compete for national titles and medals in various track and field events.