PSA50 – Jahangir Khan, The Sultan Of Squash

Born on December 10, 1963, in Karachi, Pakistan, Jahangir Khan emerged as one of the most dominant figures in the history of squash – but his ascendency to the very top of the professional game was as much a triumph of ability as it was a triumph of determination.

Jahangir’s father Roshan Khan was the 1957 British Open champion – breaking the winning streak of Pakistan compatriot and family member Hashim Khan – the first of the Khan dynasty that was to dominate squash for four decades.

Once Roshan’s playing career ended, he remained in Pakistan where he dedicated himself to turning his sons – Jahangir and Torsam – into world beaters. However, Jahangir was an ill child that suffered from bouts of hernia, as well as various other illnesses, which resulted in him being prevented from playing squash on medial advice due to fears that he would collapse due to the physical exertion.

Torsam therefore was the shining star of the family on court, who, under the careful guidance of Roshan, reached a career-high ranking of World No. 13 and was elected President of the International Squash Players Association.

Jahangir needed to have surgical intervention to correct his hernia, undergoing his first procedure at the age of five years. Despite the medical advice, he started playing squash aged eight under the watchful eye of his father – who identified that he had the potential and determination to succeed.

At age 12 Jahangir underwent another procedure, but this one would be his last: there would be no looking back – Jahangir’s career had begun.

At age fourteen he played for the national junior team at the number one position at the World Junior Championships, which was held in Sweden. The next year he qualified for inclusion in the World Amateur individual tournament – which he ended up winning aged just 15, beating Phil Kenyon in the final to become the youngest ever winner of the event.

Following his surprise World Amateur victory, Jahangir moved to London to be coached by his elder brother, Torsam, who was playing on the professional circuit. Tragically, the then 27-year-old Torsam — in the best of health and peak of his career—suffered a fatal heart attack during a tournament in Australia and died.

The loss shattered the young Jahangir and he lost his desire to play the game. Four months passed, during which he grieved deeply for his sibling and didn’t train or play. It was after much introspection that Jahangir returned to the courts to settle the unfinished business his brother had started: namely, striving to be the best player in the world, a task that he now took personally to honour his brother.

This time his father Roshan passed coaching duties to his nephew, Rehmat, who was to play a pivotal role in Jahangir’s career. Under Rehmat’s guidance, Jahangir engaged in a gruelling training programme, with physical training sessions that lasted up to eight hours each day. It was a regime that would pay dividends with Jahnagir’s fitness and stamina going on to be the thing of legend.

Exactly two years after his brother’s passing, in 1981, Jahangir stunned the world when he defeated then World No.1 Geoff Hunt in the final of the World Open to become the youngest ever winner of the sport’s most coveted title at just 17 years of age.

That win, in 1981, heralded the beginning of Jahangir’s reign as the undisputed king of squash and marked the beginning of one of sport’s most incredible records.

Between 1981 and 1986, for a period of five and a half years, Janhagir was undefeated in all competition play – winning a reputed string of 555 consecutive match wins, which is thought to be unparalleled in professional sport in the world – before defeat at the 1986 World Open final to Ross Norman finally brought the streak to an end.

That streak saw Jahangir dominate over all opponents and set the foundation for his incredible achievements which included winning 10 consecutive British Open titles between 1982 and 1991, which is a men’s record.

He also won 6 World Opens, the last of which was in 1988 against fellow Pakistani Jansher Khan, and was a finalist in three more. He lost his last World Open final, in 1993, to Jansher, who was undoubtedly his greatest rival.

After guiding Pakistan to victory at the World Team Championship in his home town of Karachi in 1993, Jahangir opted to hang up his racket – going on to be President of the World Squash Federation from 2002 to 2008, later becoming Emeritus President.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• At 15-year-old in 1979 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the World Amateur Individual Championship.
• In November 1981, he became the youngest World Open champion of all-time at 17, beating Australian favourite Geoff Hunt in the final.
• Went on to establish a remarkable 555-match unbeaten run over five and a half years (from April 81 until Nov 86).
• Titles included six World Open and a record ten British Open titles.
• Topped the world rankings for a total of 94 months between January 1982 and April 1992.
• First elected Vice-President of the World Squash Federation in November 1998, Jahangir was President from 2002-2008.