Shahrez Khan, nephew of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has qualified as the top athlete for Pakistan’s triathlon team heading into the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.
Taking to Instagram to share the news, Shahrez wrote: “Asian Games 2026 (Japan) calling. Grateful to be the top qualifier for the Pakistan Triathlon Team. Truly honoured and looking forward to officially representing my country at the highest level. This is for all the early mornings and endless hours of training, chasing what I love and embracing the shift from Ironmans to sprint distance triathlons.”
A provisional squad has been selected following initial trials, comprising Shahrez Khan, Hamza Asif, Sana Arif and Ayesha Waqas.
According to reports, additional trials will be held to identify more triathlon athletes before the final squad is announced.
Shahrez’s Ironman journey began in 2022 after completing a challenging half marathon in Islamabad, and since then he has competed in seven Ironman 70.3 events across Luxembourg, Turkey, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa.
A 7th-place finish in his age category at the Ironman 70.3 race in Puerto Princesa, Philippines secured his spot among the world’s elite endurance athletes, making him the second Pakistani to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. He currently ranks among the top 5% of Ironman athletes globally in the All World Athlete category.
His road to Japan has not been without obstacles. A travel ban in August 2025 prevented him from competing in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain, one of the biggest setbacks of his athletic career.
