PATTAYA: Pakistan’s Abida Batool has made history by winning the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) World Atomweight title, becoming the first Pakistani woman boxer to claim a world championship at the international professional level.
The boxer from Quetta’s Hazara community secured the historic victory after defeating Thailand’s Wandee Sainongkhrout by technical knockout (TKO) in the fifth round of their eight-round bout in Pattaya on October 31.
The fight took place at the FCC Stadium as part of the ‘Brave Hearts’ boxing event, where Batool dominated proceedings from the opening bell and put her Thai opponent under sustained pressure.
However, the contest came to an end in the fifth round when Sainongkhrout was unable to continue, prompting the referee to declare Batool the winner by technical knockout.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Pakistani women’s boxing, as Batool became the country’s first female boxer to win a WIBA world title. It is also expected to strengthen Pakistan’s presence in international professional boxing and improve her standing in the global rankings.
Batool began her boxing career in 2018, and the Thailand contest marked only her second international professional bout. Before claiming the world title, she had also won Pakistan’s national professional boxing championship.
However, her journey from the national circuit to the world stage was far from easy. In the early days of her career, she faced financial constraints and resistance from her family, but she remained determined to pursue her ambition despite the obstacles.
Following her historic triumph, Batool thanked her family, sponsors, coach Shariq Khan and the people of Pakistan for supporting and encouraging her throughout her journey.
She credited their backing and encouragement for helping her achieve the landmark victory.
Batool’s rise from the streets of Quetta to the international boxing ring has also emerged as a source of inspiration for women in Balochistan, particularly those seeking to overcome limited resources and social barriers to make their mark in sports and other fields.
Her achievement represents not only a personal triumph but also a breakthrough for Pakistan’s women athletes on the international professional boxing stage.
