In a major diplomatic achievement on the sports front, Pakistan has defeated India in the elections for the Asian Boxing Board of Directors, held during a high-level Congress session in Bangkok, Thailand.

Khalid Mehmood, Secretary General of the Pakistan Olympic Association, secured a commanding 18 votes, beating Indian contender Ajay Singh, who managed only 9 votes.

The election is being hailed as a significant victory for Pakistan’s sports diplomacy and an indicator of its growing influence in Asian sports governance.

Khalid Mehmood will serve alongside nine other board members representing the Philippines, China, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.

This key vote took place at the first-ever elective Congress of Asian Boxing, where national federations from all five Asian regions participated. Critical decisions regarding the sport’s future direction and leadership were made during the session.

Sources say the result is a serious blow to India’s influence in Asian sports politics, while marking a strategic boost for Pakistan’s international standing.

In addition to Mehmood’s election, the Congress unanimously elected Pichai Chunhavajira as the new President of Asian Boxing.

Two Vice Presidents were also chosen: Dr Fatima Jabra Ahmed Faqiat from Palestine and Sakin Polatov from Uzbekistan. Dr Fatima’s appointment is being celebrated as a symbol of women’s growing participation in sports governance.

Leadership roles were also assigned for the Judicial Committee and Audit & Finance Committee, with Kit Leong Lo from Macau and Darkhan Kazybayev from Kazakhstan taking on key responsibilities to enhance transparency and governance in the federation.