Faiqa Riaz (Punjabi and Urdu: فائقہ ریاض; born 6 September 1999) is a Pakistani sprinter and long jumper.[1] She represented Pakistan in women's 100 m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[2][3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | فائقہ ریاض |
| Born | 6 September 1999 |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | 100 m, 200 m, Long jump |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 100 m: 12.49 (2024) |
Early life
editFaiqa was born on 6 September 1999 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She completed her intermediate education at Lahore College for Women University and earned a Bachelor's degree from Superior University, Lahore.[4] She later obtained a Master's degree in Accounting and Finance.[5]
Career
editFaiqa initially played field hockey as a right-in/right-out and attended Pakistan's national hockey team camp ahead of their Thailand tour in 2016. She later left hockey to focus exclusively on athletics.
She made her international athletics debut at the 2018 South Asian U20 Athletics Championships held in Sri Lanka, where she finished seventh in the women's 100 m event with a timing of 13.38.[6][7]
In 2023, she won the women's 100 m event at the National Athletics Championships in Attock with a timing of 12.00, representing the WAPDA, thereby becoming the national champion.[8][9] This is not considered as her personal best since the competition did not meet World Athletics record-ratification requirements.
She represented Pakistan at the 2024 Paris Olympics after receiving a universality place.[10] Competing in the women's 100 m event, she recorded a personal best of 12.49 and finished 24th overall in the preliminary round.[3]
At the 35th National Games held in Karachi in 2025, she won four gold medals: three in individual events (100 m, 200 m, long jump) and one as part of the 4x400 m relay team.[11]
She served as the nation's joint flag-bearer alongside wrestler Muhammad Inam at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games Opening Ceremony, where she successfully qualified for the Women's 60m final by clocking 7.56 seconds in the heats before ultimately finishing 8th in the finals with a time of 7.75 seconds.[12]
Competitions
editNational Competitions
editInternational Competitions
edit| Competition | Event | Location | Year | Result | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Asian U20 Athletics Championships | 100 m | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 2018 | 13.38 | 7th[7] |
| Olympic Games | 100 m | Paris, France | 2024 | 12.49 | 24th[3] |
| Asian Beach Games | 60 m | Sanya, China | 2026 | 7.75 | 8th |
References
edit- ↑ "Faiqa RIAZ | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ "Seven athletes, 11 officials in Pakistan's Olympic contingent". DAWN.COM. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- 1 2 3 "Kishmala Talat, Faiqa Riaz bow out of Paris Olympics after failing to qualify for next round". DAWN.COM. 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
- ↑ "Former HEC Athlete Faiqa Riaz Secures Wild Card Entry to Paris Olympics – News | Superior University". Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ↑ "Paris 2024 Olympics: The Pakistan Contingent". ARY NEWS. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ↑ "Faiqa to represent Pakistan on wild card in Paris". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- 1 2 "South Asian Junior Athletics Championship 2018: Results". Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- 1 2 3 "Shajar, Faiqa sprint to 100m golds at National Athletics". DAWN.COM. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ↑ "Pakistan's Star Sprinter Faiqa Riaz Wants Training Under Coach Fayyaz Ahead Of Paris Olympics". WE News English. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ↑ Yaqoob, Mohammed (28 May 2024). "Paris-bound Faiqa wants to train under coach Fayyaz". Dawn.com.
- ↑ Lakhani, Faizan (2025-12-11). "Army wins 113 golds to stay atop National Games medal table". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
- ↑ https://nocpakistan.org/pakistan-shines-at-the-sanya-2026-opening-ceremony-muhammad-inam-and-faiqa-riaz-lead-the-contingent/
- ↑ "National Games 2019". nationalgames2019.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-08-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)