Sports

Padel’s popularity in Pakistan, especially Karachi, has surged, with venues like Legends Arena leading the way.

• The sport offers extensive health benefits, including improved cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, weight management, flexibility, and mental well-being.
• Karachi boasts numerous padel venues, providing ample opportunities for enthusiasts to engage with and enjoy the sport.

Padel, a dynamic fusion of tennis and squash, has rapidly gained traction in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi. This surge in popularity is attributed to the sport’s engaging nature and its numerous health benefits. As more enthusiasts embrace padel, several venues have emerged across the city to cater to this growing demand.​

The Rise of Padel in Pakistan

In recent years, padel has transformed from a niche pastime to a mainstream sport in Pakistan. The establishment of facilities like Legends Arena in Karachi’s Defence locality exemplifies this trend. Once an underutilized hockey ground, Legends Arena now attracts an average of 750 visitors on weekdays, with numbers exceeding 1,000 on weekends. This surge underscores the sport’s burgeoning appeal among Karachi’s residents.

Health and Fitness Benefits of Padel

Beyond its entertainment value, padel offers a plethora of health advantages:

• Cardiovascular Health: The sport’s continuous movement elevates heart rate, enhancing cardiovascular fitness and reducing heart disease risk.

• Muscle Strength and Endurance: Engaging multiple muscle groups through actions like running and swinging, padel improves overall strength and stamina. ​

• Weight Management: An hour of play can burn up to 600 calories, aiding in effective weight control. ​

• Flexibility and Agility: Quick directional changes and rapid reflexes enhance flexibility, agility, and coordination.

• Mental Well-being: The strategic nature of padel stimulates cognitive functions, while social interactions during the game alleviate stress and boost mood. ​

Top Padel Venues in Karachi

For those eager to experience padel, Karachi offers several premier venues:

1. Legends Arena: Located in Defence, this multisport facility boasts multiple padel courts and has been instrumental in popularizing the sport locally. ​

2. Smash X: A modern sports complex known for its state-of-the-art padel courts and training programs.​

3. Viva Padel: Offers well-maintained courts and hosts regular tournaments, fostering a vibrant padel community.​

4. JKC (Jahangir Khan Complex): Managed by Legends Arena, JKC features padel courts that meet international standards. ​

5. Premier Club: A members-only club providing exclusive access to high-quality padel facilities.​

6. Karachi Creek Club: Combines scenic views with top-notch padel courts, offering a unique playing experience.​

7. Paddle House Karachi: Dedicated entirely to padel, this venue focuses on promoting the sport through coaching and events.​

8. Southend Club: Features padel among its diverse sports offerings, attracting a broad spectrum of enthusiasts.​

9. Paddle Club Karachi: Known for its friendly atmosphere and well-maintained courts, ideal for both beginners and seasoned players.​

10. Royal Rodale: A comprehensive sports and leisure club with facilities catering to padel aficionados.​

11. Bayview High Padel Courts: Affiliated with Bayview High School, these courts promote padel among students and the community.​

12. SZABIST Padel Court: Situated within the SZABIST campus, this court encourages student participation in the sport.​

The proliferation of these venues reflects Karachi’s enthusiastic embrace of padel. As the sport continues to flourish, it not only offers an exciting recreational activity but also contributes significantly to the health and well-being of its participants.​

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• Kaukab Sarwar, a Karachi-based runner, became the fastest Pakistani woman at the Tokyo Marathon 2025, completing the race in 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 25 seconds.
• Sarwar credited her success to teamwork and support, emphasizing the importance of sharing her learnings with aspiring runners in Pakistan.
• Her achievement highlights the growing presence of Pakistani women in global endurance sports, inspiring future generations.

Karachi’s very own Kaukab Sarwar has etched her name in history as the fastest Pakistani woman at the prestigious Tokyo Marathon 2025. Clocking an impressive time of 3 hours, 52 minutes, and 25 seconds, she not only shattered personal records but also set a new benchmark for Pakistani women in endurance sports.

Sarwar’s remarkable feat wasn’t just about speed; it was a story of perseverance, discipline, and an unrelenting passion for running. Her achievement in Tokyo has placed her among the elite long-distance runners representing Pakistan on the global stage, reinforcing the country’s growing presence in international marathons.

For Sarwar, the marathon was more than just a race—it was a journey of self-discovery and resilience.  The Karachi-based runner emphasized the role of her training partners and mentors in shaping her journey.

Sarwar’s victory resonates far beyond the finish line. As a role model for aspiring female athletes in Pakistan, she is proof that determination, consistency, and hard work can break barriers. In a country where endurance sports are still gaining traction among women, her achievement serves as an inspiration for the next generation of runners.

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors, an event that brings together elite runners and dedicated athletes from around the world. Competing in such a high-profile race, Sarwar demonstrated that Pakistani runners are capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the best. Her success marks a significant milestone in Pakistan’s sports history, opening doors for more women to take up long-distance running and challenge global standards.

Looking ahead, Sarwar plans to use her experience to empower other runners back home.  These words reflect a vision that extends beyond personal accomplishments—she is paving the way for a stronger running community in the country.

As Pakistani athletes continue to make waves in international sports, Kaukab Sarwar’s triumph at the Tokyo Marathon 2025 stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. Her story is one of breaking limits, setting new goals, and proving that Pakistani women belong on the global athletic stage. With every step she took in Tokyo, she inspired a generation to chase their dreams—one mile at a time.

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• • Defying the Odds: Sana Arif, a 40-year-old Pakistani triathlete, began her Ironman journey in her late 30s and completed her first race just two years after learning to swim.
  • Challenges & Triumphs: Training in extreme conditions, balancing responsibilities, and competing in two back-to-back Ironman 70.3 races within a month, Sana has shown remarkable resilience.
  • Passion Over Recognition: Despite Pakistan’s limited triathlon culture and the challenges of being a foreign-based athlete, Sana remains dedicated to her love for the sport rather than chasing titles or external validation.

Competing in Ironman events is no small feat, but for Pakistan’s pioneering female triathlete Sana Arif, it is a journey of resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication. At 40 years old, she is not just racing against time but also against the odds of representing a country where endurance sports remain largely uncharted territory.

From Lahore to Kuwait: A Sporting Awakening

Born in Kuwait and raised in Lahore, Sana always had an affinity for sports, but it was upon returning to Kuwait in 2007 that she truly immersed herself in the world of endurance sports. She first encountered the Ironman through local sporting circles, where she met athletes who had conquered the grueling challenge. Inspired by their achievements, she decided to embark on the journey herself.

An Ironman 70.3, or half-Ironman, consists of a 1.9 km open-sea swim, a 90 km cycling leg, and a 21.1 km half marathon—an endurance race that takes years of disciplined training to master. But Sana defied expectations, starting from scratch in her late 30s and learning how to swim as recently as 2021. Two years later, she competed in her first Ironman 70.3 in Turkey.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Motivated

Training for an Ironman is physically demanding and mentally exhausting. Sana had to balance twice-daily training sessions with her professional and personal life, often sacrificing social events and enduring emotionally and physically draining moments.

Her journey has been anything but easy. Competing in two Ironman 70.3 races within a single month—Antalya, Turkey (October 2023) and Bahrain (November 2024)—left little room for recovery. However, the sheer exhilaration of crossing the finish line kept her going.

The Iron-Willed Pakistani Spirit

Being one of the few Pakistani athletes in the global triathlon community comes with both pride and isolation. Pakistan still lacks a strong presence in endurance sports, making it difficult for athletes to find a robust support system.

She acknowledges the controversy surrounding dual nationals competing under the Pakistani flag for rankings despite training abroad. While she believes it’s unethical to exploit rankings, she also notes that foreign-based athletes are not always welcomed by Pakistani sports communities.

A Love for Sport, Not Recognition

Sana’s commitment to Ironman racing is rooted in her passion for the sport rather than the pursuit of titles. Her journey is proof that determination, discipline, and passion can defy all barriers. For Sana Arif, the finish line isn’t just a destination—it’s a testament to perseverance and the belief that anything is possible, no matter where you start from.

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• • • In the late 1980s, female swimmers like Shaan Kandawalla had no platform to compete, leading mothers to establish the Women’s Sindh Open in 1992.
    • Despite strict dress codes and lack of funding, persistent advocacy led to Pakistan’s first female international swimming representation in 1997.
    • Poor governance still hampers progress, but KWASA continues to sustain women’s swimming, ensuring young athletes have a platform to thrive. In the late 1980s, Pakistan’s fastest female swimmer, Shaan Kandawalla, had to sneak into a men’s race just to compete.

The story of women’s swimming in Pakistan is not just about athletes but about the determined mothers who made it possible. In 1992, a group of Karachi-based women, led by Veena Masud, Nargis Rahimatoola, Fatima Lakhani, and others, formed the Karachi Women’s Amateur Swimming Association (KWASA). They launched the Women’s Sindh Open, a competition that gave female swimmers their first real chance to race competitively. Despite strict conditions—no male spectators, knee-length swimsuits, and zero media coverage—these women built a legacy from scratch.

The early years were challenging. Competitors swam in leotards, dealt with the taboo around tampons, and had no structured coaching. Yet, they persevered. Corporate sponsorships, notably from Colgate-Palmolive, helped elevate the event, making it a staple in Pakistan’s swimming calendar. The Sindh Open soon became a proving ground for future champions, including Pakistan’s first female Olympian swimmer, Rubab Raza.

By 1997, Pakistan’s women swimmers had made their international debut at the Women’s Islamic Games in Tehran. Though they were not yet competing for medals, their participation alone was groundbreaking. However, bureaucracy, financial neglect, and a lack of proper facilities have since stifled the sport’s progress. Without government backing, parents today must fund their children’s participation in global championships, making swimming an elite privilege rather than a national sport.

Despite this, the legacy of KWASA and these pioneering mothers remains. For over 30 years, they have nurtured the sport like their own child, creating a sanctuary for female athletes to thrive. The Sindh Open has grown into an event where young girls can compete, form lifelong friendships, and experience the empowerment that sports bring.

People should see the impact sports has in empowering women. It breaks down barriers and opens so many doors for them. And thanks to these trailblazers, the doors remain open for the next generation of Pakistan’s swimmers.

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