Faiqa Riaz Breaks National Record at Commonwealth Games Despite Missing Semifinals

July 31, 2026

Pakistan’s Faiqa Riaz set a new national record in the women’s 100m at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, clocking 11.64 seconds to surpass the previous record of 11.81 seconds. Although she narrowly missed the semifinals, her record-breaking performance marked a significant milestone for Pakistan athletics and highlighted the country’s growing potential on the international stage.

Pakistan’s Faiqa Riaz set a new national record in the women’s 100 meters at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, despite narrowly missing qualification for the semifinals. The performance stands as the most notable achievement from Pakistan’s contingent at the Games and represents a meaningful step forward for the country’s athletics programme on the international stage.

The Timing and the Record

Competing in the third heat, Faiqa completed the race in 11.64 seconds, breaking the previous national record of 11.81 seconds, which was jointly held by Olympians Sadaf Siddiqui and Naseem Hameed. The margin by which she improved upon the existing record reflects a genuinely competitive performance, not merely a technical improvement.

Narrow Miss on Semifinal Qualification

Faiqa finished 21st overall in a field of 52 athletes. The top 17 runners qualified for the semifinals, with the Pakistani athlete missing a place in the next round by just 0.12 seconds. The narrow gap between her time and the qualifying threshold indicates that she was competitive at this level, even if the result did not translate into advancement.

Mixed Results Across Other Disciplines

Results were mixed across other disciplines for the Pakistani contingent. In the men’s long jump, Ansar Abbas recorded a best jump of 7.06 meters in the qualification round and finished 18th among 20 competitors, with only the top 12 athletes progressing to the final. In lawn bowls, Ayub Qureshi concluded his men’s singles campaign with a win over Jamaica’s Robert Simpson, winning 13-3 and 9-5, and finishing the group stage with two victories from five matches, though he did not qualify for the semifinals.

Swimmers Fail to Advance

Pakistan’s swimmers were also unable to progress from their respective events. Ahmed Durrani completed the men’s 100-meter freestyle in 53.09 seconds to finish 44th overall, while Hamza Asif recorded a time of 53.43 seconds and placed 47th. In the women’s 50-meter breaststroke, Hareem Malik finished 24th after completing the race in 36.52 seconds.

Boxing Exits in Round of 16

In boxing, Pakistan’s athletes exited the competition following defeats in the round of 16. Sumama Rehman suffered a unanimous 5-0 defeat against India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the men’s 55-kilogram contest, while Mailaika Zahid won the opening round of her bout but eventually lost 4-1 to Zambia’s C. Mwape.

A Positive Sign Amid Broader Challenges

While the overall performance of the contingent reflected the structural limitations Pakistan continues to face in competitive international sport, Faiqa Riaz’s record-breaking run provided a clear and encouraging sign of individual progress. A national record set on an international stage, regardless of final placement, carries genuine significance and offers a credible benchmark for the country’s women’s sprint programme going forward.