Pakistan’s squash legend Jahangir Khan

Pakistan’s squash legend Jahangir Khan first won the World Amateur Championship at the age of 15. Two years later, in 1981, he won the World Open by dethroning Geoff Hunt of Australia, who dominated the world of squash until then. Jahangir, though he was a very weak child, was groomed by his father Roshan Khan, himself a former British Open champion, and then by his late older brother Torsam Khan. Torsam collapsed during a tournament match in 1979 and died. Earlier, the 27-year-old World No 13 player had taken his little brother aside and told him that their father wished to see one of his sons as a world squash champion. “I can’t, you have to,” he had said.

Jahangir was heartbroken after his brother’s death but he worked very hard. Seeing the child’s keen ambition his cousin Rehmat Khan gave up his own career to coach him. Those who knew his story cried with the 17-year-old Jahangir that day when he beat Hunt and fell to his knees to offer sajda inside the squash court to thank the almighty for fulfilling his dream.

There was no looking back after that as Jahangir remained unbeaten for 555 consecutive matches over five years and eight months. He also won the British Open Championship 10 times straight, from 1982 to 1993. He was six times World Open Champion as

well and when someone did succeed in beating him finally it was another teenager from Pakistan by the name of Jansher Khan.