Srinagar
A non-resident Kashmiri becomes the oldest Kashmiri-American finalist in the Los Angeles Marathon run on March 24, this year.
Rafique A Khan, a 79-year-old Kashmiri-American completed the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon run. Established in 1986, the LA Marathon is one of the largest Marathons in the USA, with more than 25,000 participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Khan completed the 26.2 miles (about 42.16 Kilometers) run in about six and a half hours. This was Khan’s 7th Marathon run; his first marathon run was in 1987. Khan had worn a 2019 LA Marathon shirt with “free Kashmir ” imprinted on it, reports said.
Zeeshan Khan, another Kashmiri American who ran his 3rd Los Angeles Marathon said, it was a proud moment to see Khan run his 7th Marathon at this age. “Khan is an inspirational Marathon runner who proved that age is just a number,” he said. Majid Butt, another Kashmiri American who also ran his 3rd Los Angeles Marathon said, it was a pleasure and an honour to run with Khan. “Late Nadir Ansari and Rafique will forever be an inspiration to him and many other Kashmiris in California,” Butt said.
Khan came to the USA in 1968. He trained and worked as a Los Angeles city planner. Khan now serves as the managing director of Kashmir American Foundation – a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that was established in 1995.
