Gianni Merlo secures re-election as AIPS President; Historic honor for Pakistan’s Amjad Aziz Malik

Gianni Merlo secures re-election as AIPS President;

Historic honor for Pakistan’s Amjad Aziz Malik

By Nawaz Gohar ;  Italy’s Gianni Merlo has been re-elected as the President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) for a new four-year term. In a decisive vote held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne during the 88th AIPS Congress, Merlo secured a landslide victory over challenger Zsuzsa Csisztu.

Merlo claimed 83 out of 108 votes (76.85%), reinforcing his mandate to lead the global sports media body through 2030. Following his win, Merlo emphasized that the members’ trust reflects a shared vision for the future. “Our focus must remain on preparing the next generation and adapting our organization to the rapidly evolving landscape of modern media,” he stated.

The Congress also saw the election of several key figures to the Executive Committee:

First Vice President: Evelyn Watta (Kenya) secured a resounding 90% of the vote.

Treasurer: Manuel Queiroz was elected unopposed.

Vice Presidents: Gao Chao (China), Ernesto Ortiz Gomez, Michal Dusik, and Maarja Värv.

In a landmark move, the Congress approved significant constitutional amendments. Moving forward, the tenure for the AIPS President will be capped at a maximum of 12 years, and Executive Committee members must be under the age of 75.

For the first time in the 102-year history of AIPS, a Pakistani sports journalist has been conferred with the Honorary Life Membership. Amjad Aziz Malik, President of the Pakistan Sports Writers Federation (PSWF) and a veteran journalist, was honored for his distinguished service spanning over a decade.

The honor was presented before representatives from 111 countries. Asim Shiraz, Vice President of the PSWF, exercised the right to vote on behalf of Pakistan during the proceedings. Malik shares this honorary status with five other senior journalists from Japan, Spain, Malta, Brazil, and Turkey.

The Secretary of the Pakistan Sports Writers Federation, Muhammad Asghar Azim, extended his heartfelt congratulations to Amjad Aziz Malik, terming the achievement a moment of immense pride for the entire nation.

“This recognition is not just a personal accolade for Mr. Malik but a historic milestone for Pakistan’s sports journalism,” said Azim. “It strengthens our representation on the global stage and highlights the positive contributions of Pakistan to the international sporting community.”