KARACHI, Jan 11: Eight women athletes are due to leave for Lahore by train on Friday to compete in the third International Lahore Marathon being held there on Sunday. The women athletes appeared to have been stranded due to lack of sponsorship at one stage but one of the multi-national banks came to their rescue to finance the trip at the last moment after the provincial sports board had given a deaf ear to their written request for arrangement of necessary funds last month.

Two of the eight female runners will compete in 10km race while three will run in the 5km one and the rest of the three will compete in the 3km contest.

“Sindh is pinning hopes in two of its long distance athletes, Khizra Mushtaq and Komal, to win a medal,” president, Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), Fakir Ayazuddin, said on Thursday.

Khizra captured gold in 800 and 1500metres in the second Inter-provincial games held at Lahore while Komal settled for the bronze in the two events.

Squad: Khizra Mushtaq, Komal (10km); Kiran, Kanwal, Ayesha (5km); Afshan, Nousheen and Nadia (3km). Mujahid Ali (coach).