Pakistani Pride: A Legacy of Squash Players
Noakili’s “Abdullah Khan” worked as the head steward at an elite club in Peshawar, Pakistan. As communicated, in the year 1916, Abdullah had his first child. Little did they know, that his wife not only gave birth to a son, but a legend.
“Hashim Khan” spent his childhood serving as a voluntary ball-boy at the Club that his father worked at. After the officers would vacate the courts, Khan as well as the rest of the ball-boys would invade the courts. Prior to Hashim’s first ever “All-India” Squash Open title, he worked at the British Air Force officers' mess as a squash coach. Khan defended his “All-India” Squash Open title for the next two years to come. Right after which, in 1949, he participated in the “Pakistan Squash Championship.” Hashim went on to win the Championship which was the first of its kind.
“Abdul Bari” was a distant relative of Khan who chose to stay back in India, post partition. Bari was one of India’s greatest; however, defeating him wasn’t much of a task for Hashim. In 1950, Abdul made it to the British Open final but was beaten by Egypt’s Mahmoud Karim. In a way, Abdul was responsible for giving rise to Hashim’s drive to play at the British Open.
'The British Open' was effectively known as the 'World Open' back in the mid 90’s. Hashim Khan wound up thrashing the defending champion, Mehmoud Karim from Egypt, in the 1951 British Open final. This was Khan’s first ever British Open win.
Khan proved himself unbeatable as he held on to the British Open title for the next 5 years. However, in the year 1957, Hashim’s cousin “Roshan Khan” defeated him 6-9, 9-5, 9-2, and 9-1 in the championship final. The following year, Khan faced his brother, “Azam Khan” In 1958, Hashim crushed his sibling, Azam 9-7, 6-9, 9-6, 9-7, in the last British Open final of his career. Apart from Khan’s 7 British Open titles, he has three U.S. Open wins amongst his five British Professional Championship and Canadian Open titles.
It wasn’t until Hashim’s 1951 British Open win that he personally took charge of his younger brother, Azam. In 1952, Khan played alongside his older brother, Hashim , as his practice partner. Under the constant governance of his brother, Azam mastered the game in a short period of time. In 1954, Khan opposed Hashim in the British Open final. Showing no mercy, Hashim annihilated Azam 6-9, 9-6, 9-6, 7-9 and 9-5 to take the title. Azam came up against his elder brother in the 1955 and the 1958 British Open final as well, only to face defeat two more times.
Azam never got a chance to defeat his mentor and elder brother, Hashim as he played his last tournament in the year 1958. The following year, Azam opposed his nephew, “Mohib-Ullah Khan” in the 1959 British Open final. Khan bagged his first ever British Open title defeating “Mo” 9-5, 9-0 and 9-1.
Khan held on to the title for three further years beating cousin, Roshan Khan in 1960 and nephew Mo, another two times in 1961 and 1962. Azam also won the 1962 U.S. Open final. However, that same year, unfortunately, due to a major foot injury, Khan had no choice but to put an end to his career as a Squash Professional.
Azam’s son, “Wasil Khan” has remained a “Junior World Squash” Champion. Furthermore, Wasil started coaching his daughter Carla in her childhood. 28 year old, “Carla Khan” has bagged five titles in her profession so far. The Right handed professional won her first title in the year 2002. Khan defeated Mexico’s “Samantha Teran” 9–1, 2–9, 9–3, 9–1 in the 2002 El-Salvador Open. Carla also has an Iranian Open title to her name amongst three other Championship wins.
In the year 2008, Khan thrashed England's Emma Beddoes 9–2, 9–2, and 9-0 only to win the “Austrian Open” title. After which, Carla announced her retirement. She however, made her return the following year and is going ahead with the play.
Squash’s Mohib Ullah-Khan, Roshan Khan, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan are all also from Noakili. The small village has produced a number of quality squash professionals for over half a century, and hopefully, will continue doing so.
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