Jansher Khan

Jansher Khan

Jansher Khan:

Jansher Khan PP SI HI (Urduجان شیر خان‎; born 15 June 1969, in PeshawarPakistan)[4][5][6] is a former World No. 1 professional Pakistani squash player. During his career he won the World Open a record eight times, and the British Open six times. Jansher Khan is widely regarded as greatest squash player of all time. He is the only player in the history of squash game that from 1988 to 1998 he was continuously ranked World No.01 and his longest winning streak in top level professional sports as also recorded by Guinness World Records. He was also said as player of millennium. Jansher Khan is the only player in the history of Squash game that despite the passage of 20 years after his retirement in squash still no one in the world has been broken his records and he is also the only player in the history of sports that after his retirement he have active records. Jansher Khan retirement in 2001 brought an end to nearly 50 years of domination by Pakistan in the sport of squash. He was troubled by back, knee and groin injuries throughout his career.

Career:

Jansher Khan started his career with one broken hand at the age of 11 in 1981. He first came to prominence at the age of 16 when he won the World Junior Squash Championships in Australia in 1986 and the Senior World Open title in same year, by beating Australia‘s Chris Dittmar in the final at the age of 16. He became youngest winner in the history of squash and same year he also defeated the world No.1 Jahangir Khan in Hong Kong Open. Jansher Khan started his career as an employee of Pakistan Air Force. Jansher Khan was known for his lightning quick reflexes and movement around the court. During his illustrious career, he won PSA Professional 293 matches out of total 331 and PSA Professional Tour Finals 99 out of 118.[7] which is record in the history of squash game while his other competitor Jahangir Khan won PSA professional 134 matches out of total 164 and PSA Professional Tour Finals 61 out of 80. Jansher Khan officially announced his retirement from squash in 2001[9] Jansher Khan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in late 2011. In 2020, after suffering from a severe back pain while praying and walking, Jansher Khan underwent double back surgery successfully at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Jansher Khan had these words of advice for young players after his successful surgery:

“I would advise today’s young players that along with their hard training they must take special care of their back, knee and groin injuries and treat minor ailments timely to avoid serious problems in future.”

Squash Coaching:

In September 2020 on request of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan squash legend Jansher Khan joined the directorate general sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a head squash coach the facilities available to athletes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are unmatched in any other country. Squash is the only sport in which coaching and training is very important. Due to lack of good training and coaching, the best talents of the province is being wasted. The government has fulfilled his desire to train the children of the province by providing coaching opportunities. Jansher Khan said that he will do his best to fill the gap created in the game of squash and make the country a new world champion.

Awards and recognition:

World Open final appearances:

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1987 BirminghamEngland Australia Chris Dittmar 9–5, 9–4, 4–9, 9–6
Runner-up 1988 AmsterdamNetherlands Pakistan Jahangir Khan 9-6, 9-2, 9-2
Winner 1989 Kuala LumpurMalaysia Australia Chris Dittmar 7–15, 6–15, 15–4, 15–11, 15–10
Winner 1990 ToulouseFrance Australia Chris Dittmar 15–8, 17–15, 13–15, 15–5
Winner 1992 JohannesburgSouth Africa Australia Chris Dittmar 15–11, 15–9, 10–15, 15–6
Winner 1993 KarachiPakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 14–15, 15–9, 15–5, 15–5
Winner 1994 BarcelonaSpain England Peter Marshall 10–15, 15–11, 15–8, 15–4
Winner 1995 NicosiaCyprus England Del Harris 15–10, 17–14, 16–17, 15–8
Winner 1996 Karachi, Pakistan Australia Rodney Eyles 15–13, 17–15, 11–15, 15–3

Major World Series final appearances

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up 1987 London, England Pakistan Jahangir Khan 9–6, 9–0, 9–5
Runner-up 1991 London, England Pakistan Jahangir Khan 2–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0
Winner 1992 London, England Australia Chris Robertson 9–7, 10–9, 9–5
Winner 1993 London, England Australia Chris Dittmar 9–6, 9–5, 6–9, 9–2
Winner 1994 London, England Australia Brett Martin 9–1, 9–0, 9–10, 9–1
Winner 1995 CardiffWales England Peter Marshall 15–4, 15–4, 15–5
Winner 1996 Cardiff, Wales Australia Rodney Eyles 15–13, 15–8, 15–10
Winner 1997 Cardiff, Wales Scotland Peter Nicol 17–15, 9–15, 15–12, 8–15, 15–8
Runner-up 1998 Birmingham, England Scotland Peter Nicol 17–16, 15–4, 15–5
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1987 Hong Kong Australia Chris Dittmar 9-6, 9-2, 9-5
Winner 1988 Hong Kong Australia Chris Dittmar 15-11, 9-15, 15-6, 12-15, 15-1
Winner 1989 Hong Kong Australia Chris Dittmar 15-8, 16-17, 15-2, 15-6
Winner 1990 Hong Kong Australia Chris Robertson 15-6, 14-15, 15-10, 15-5
Winner 1991 Hong Kong Australia Tristan Nancarrow 16-17, 15-6, 15-17, 15-4, 15-5
Winner 1994 Hong Kong Scotland Peter Nicol 15-7, 15-10, 15-6
Winner 1995 Hong Kong Australia Brett Martin 15-12, 15-7, 15-3
Runner-up 1996 Hong Kong Australia Rodney Eyles 15-10, 15-10, 15-5
Winner 1997 Hong Kong Canada Jonathon Power 14-15, 15-12, 15-7, 15-2
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1987 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 1-9, 9-1, 10-8, 9-5, 9-0
Runner-up 1988 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 16-17, 10-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-7
Runner-up 1989 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 15-11, 15-12, 15-10
Winner 1990 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 9-2, 4-9, 9-2, 9-2
Runner-up 1991 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 9-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-5
Winner 1992 Pakistan Pakistan Jahangir Khan 15-13, 15-5, 15-12
Winner 1994 Pakistan England Peter Marshall 14-15, 15-14, 15-10, 9-15, 15-6
Winner 1995 Pakistan Australia Rodney Eyles 15-9, 15-12, 15-8
Winner 1997 Pakistan Australia Anthony Hill 15-11, 15-7, 15-8
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner 1993 Zurich, Switzerland Australia Chris Dittmar 15-10, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8
Winner 1994 Zurich, Switzerland England Peter Marshall 8-15, 15-8, 15-7, 15-9
Winner 1997 Hatfield, England Australia Brett Martin 9-7, 9-5, 9-2
Winner 1998 Hatfield, England England Simon Parke 15-12, 13-15, 15-11, 15-10