January 15, 2007	Monday	Zilhaj 24, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 14: Four Sindh women athletes finished among top 10 Pakistani athletes in 10km race in the third International Lahore Marathon held at Lahore on Sunday.

Komal, silver medallist in 800m and 1500m at the second Inter-provincial games last year, was the star performer for Sindh securing second position among the locals. She was placed overall seventh among foreign and Pakistani athletes.

Khizra Mushtaq, who won gold in the above two events at the Lahore meet, had to be content with fifth position. She was followed by Ayesha (6th) and Afshan (7th).

The remaining four athletes — Kiran, Kanwal, Nousheen and Nadia — finished below 10th.

“The girls could have performed much better had they got some rest after a long train journey from Karachi to Lahore,” coach, Mujahid Ali, told Dawn from Lahore on Sunday night.

He said the team which left Karachi by Karakoram Express reached Lahore Saturday at 11pm and could not get enough time for rest.

The trip materialised at the last moment after Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) president Fakir Ayazuddin persuaded a multi-national bank to meet the expenses.

Mujahid said all Sindh athletes participated in 10km after the organisers turned 5km and 3km into walk.

The team is due to return to the city on Monday.