Hamza Khan
{{Short description|Pakistani squash player}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Hamza Khan
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Muhammad Hamza Khan
| nationality = Pakistani
| birth_date = 2006
| birth_place = Peshawar, Pakistan
| occupation = Squash player
| years_active = 2016 - present
| height_ft = 5.7
| weight_lb = 143
| country = {{PAK}}
| sport = Squash
| event = Men's singles
| league = Pakistan Squash Federation
| league_type = Federation
| coach = Tahir Iqbal Khan
| worlds = {{Plainlist|
- British Junior Open Squash (2020)
- US Junior Open squash championship (2021)
- World Junior Squash Championship (2023)
}}
| regionals =
| nationals =
| olympics =
| commonwealth =
| highestranking = No. 278{{Squash Info}}
| updated = 23 July 2023
}}
Hamza Khan is a Pakistani squash player who became the World Junior Squash Champion, when he won the 2023 World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia.{{cite news |title=Hamza Khan becomes first Pakistani to win World Junior Squash Championship since 1986 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1766363/hamza-khan-becomes-first-pakistani-to-win-world-junior-squash-championship-since-1986 |work=Dawn |date=July 23, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Hamza qualifies for World Junior Squash Championship final |url=https://pakobserver.net/hamza-qualifies-for-world-junior-squash-championship-final/ |work=Pakistan Observer |date=July 23, 2023}}
Early life and family
Hamza belongs to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. His maternal uncle Shahid Zaman is well known squash player who was formerly ranked World No. 14. The former world champion Qamar Zaman is also a close relative.
Career
After winning the title Chief of Air Staff U-11 squash championship in 2016, Hamza was invited by the Pakistan Squash Federation to register as a trainee. At the start of his international career, he won the U-15 British Junior Open Squash championship in 2020.{{cite news |title=Hamza Khan wins British Junior Open squash championship |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2131580/hamza-khan-wins-british-junior-open-squash-championship |work=The Express Tribune |date=January 6, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Pakistan's Hamza Khan wins U-15 British Junior Open 2020 |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/594501-pakistans |work=The News International |date=January 6, 2020}} The following year, he came out on top in the 2021 U-19 US Junior Open squash championship.{{cite news |title=Hamza wins US Junior Open Squash U19 title |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/919050-hamza-wins-us-junior-open-squash-u19-title |work=The News International |date=December 23, 2021}} He secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Men's World Junior Squash Championships.{{cite news |title=Hamza on cusp of history |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2427558/hamza-on-cusp-of-history |work=The Express Tribune |date=July 23, 2023}}
However, the highlight of his young career arrived in July 2023, when Hamza won the World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia. He defeated Muhammad Zakaria of Egypt by a score of 3-1 in the final. He is the first Pakistani to win the championship since Jansher Khan's accomplishment in 1986.{{cite news |title=In a first since 1986, Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2427582/in-a-first-since-1986-hamza-khan-wins-world-junior-squash-championship |work=The Express Tribune |date=July 23, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Hamza crowned new world junior squash champion |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/24-Jul-2023/hamza-crowned-new-world-junior-squash-champion |work=The Nation |date=July 24, 2023}}
In June 2024, Hamza won the Boys’ Under-19 title at the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad, downing Malaysia’s third seed Harith Danial in straight sets 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.{{cite news |title=Pakistan’s Hamza Khan crowned U-19 squash champion at Asian Juniors |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1842746/pakistans-hamza-khan-crowned-u-19-squash-champion-at-asian-juniors |work=DAWN |date=29 June 2024 |language=en}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Hamza}}
Category:Pakistani male squash players