Jahangir Khan

{{Infobox squash player

| name = Jahangir Khan

| image = File:Jahangir Khan 2018.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Jahangir Khan at the 2018 Asian Awards

| fullnamnsbsnsbe

e =

| nickname = JK

| country = Pakistan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|12|10}}

| birth_place = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

| height =1.69 m

| weight =

| turnedpro =

| retired = 1993

| plays =

| coach =

| racquet = Unsquashable

| website =

| event = Men's singles

| highest_ranking = No. 1

| date_of_highest_ranking =

| titles =

| finals =

| WorldOpenresult = W (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{PAK}} }}

| updated = 28 April 2020

| module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes

| office = 1st Emeritus President of the
World Squash Federation

| term_start = 2008

| term_end =

| predecessor = Post created

| successor =

| office1 = 7th President of the
World Squash Federation

| term_start1 = 2002

| term_end1 = 2008

| predecessor1 = {{flagicon|NZL}} Susie Simcock

| successor1 = {{flagicon|IND}} Narayana Ramachandran

}}

Jahangir Khan (Pashto, {{langx|ur|جهانګير خان}} born 10 December 1963) is a former professional Pakistani squash player. He won the World Open title six times, and the British Open title ten times (1982–1991). He is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time,{{cite web|url=http://www.squashsite.co.uk/olympics4.htm|title=Greatest player|publisher=Squashsite|access-date=2 March 2010|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122932/http://www.squashsite.co.uk/olympics4.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Jahangir Khan recognised as greatest squash player of all time |url=https://unsquashable.com/en-us/blogs/world-tour-highlights/jahangir-khan-recognised-as-greatest-squash-player-of-all-time |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=UNSQUASHABLE |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 5 Live - The Question of Sport Podcast - Three of the most incredible unbeaten streaks in sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2g9cpZD75XmQvr5k4PGNcgL/three-of-the-most-incredible-unbeaten-streaks-in-sport |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} and the greatest sportsman in Pakistan history.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Faizan |date=2016-02-24 |title=Jahangir Khan - Sportsman of the millennium |url=https://nation.com.pk/27-Jan-2013/jahangir-khan-sportsman-of-the-millennium |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Diane |date=March 2019 |title=Jahangir Khan - Conqueror of the World |url=https://www.worldsquash.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Jahangir-Khan-Interview.pdf |access-date=2024-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828232158/https://www.worldsquash.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Jahangir-Khan-Interview.pdf |archive-date=2023-08-28 |url-status=live |website=World Squash}} From 1981 to 1986, Khan was unbeaten and won 555 consecutive matches during that time{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/884591-jahangir-khan-a-champion-who-lived-up-to-his-name|title=Jahangir Khan: A champion who lived up to his name|publisher=The News International|access-date=21 April 2021}} – the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sport as recorded by Guinness World Records.{{Cite web|url=https://www.psaworldtour.com/tournaments/norman-talks-ending-khan-s-555-winning-run/|title=Norman Talks Ending Khan's 555 Winning Run|date=20 July 2020|website=PSA World Tour|access-date=20 May 2023}}[https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/squash-jahangir-injury-hastens-final-exit-1553408.html Jahangir injury hastens final exit], The Independent, 24 September 1992[http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Sports/20080826/1037474.html Jahangir Khan hopes for squash's 2016 Olympic debut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008232517/http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Sports/20080826/1037474.html |date=8 October 2019 }}, Webindia123.com, 26 August 2008

He retired as a player in 1993, and served as President of the World Squash Federation from 2002 to 2008. Later in 2008, he became Emeritus President of the World Squash Federation.{{cite web |title=Officers |url=http://www.worldsquash.org/ws/wsf-information/officers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918050825/http://www.worldsquash.org/ws/wsf-information/officers |archive-date=18 September 2018 |access-date=2 March 2015 |publisher=World Squash Federation}}

Early and personal life

Khan was born on 10 December 1963 in Karachi.{{Cite web |title=JAHANGIR KHAN |url=https://unsquashable.com/en-us/pages/jahangir-khan |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=UNSQUASHABLE |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Asian Awards {{!}} Honouring Asian Excellence {{!}} VIP Asian Awards {{!}} Business Awards {{!}} Jahangir Khan |url=https://www.theasianawards.com/Jahangir_Khan.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.theasianawards.com}}{{Cite web |date=2017-07-01 |title=Jahangir Khan - Pakistan squash legend who took the sport to new heights |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/4243/jahangir-khan-pakistan-squash-legend-who-took-the-sport-to-new-heights/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}} His family originally hailed from Nawan Kalli, a small village near Peshawar in Pakistan.{{Cite web |last=Chaudhry |first=Ijaz |date=2020-10-11 |title=SQUASH: COURTING SUCCESS |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1584376 |access-date= |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=columnist_details&column_id=183|title=The civil society has developed into a formidable force|last=Hafiz|first=Javed|access-date=2 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127032722/http://omantribune.com/index.php?page=columnist_details&column_id=183|archive-date=27 November 2010|url-status=dead}}[http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/sports/2010/03/15/feature-01 Poor Peshawar village home of squash dynasty]. Central Asia Online. 15 March 2010.

A member of the Khan family, he was born into a family of squash players; his father Roshan Khan won the British Open title in 1957, and his older brother was Torsam Khan.

Two of his nieces are Natasha Khan (better known as Bat for Lashes), a British singer,{{cite news |date=26 February 2009 |title=Bat for Lashes: off the wall |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4787192/Bat-for-Lashes-off-the-wall.html}} and Maria Khan, a professional footballer who has played for the Pakistan women national football team.{{Cite web |last=Irshad |date=2023-01-21 |title=The footballer who scored an incredible goal on a free kick is the niece of legend Jahangir Khan - Daily Usaf Pipa News - PiPa News |url=https://pipanews.com/the-footballer-who-scored-an-incredible-goal-on-a-free-kick-is-the-niece-of-legend-jahangir-khan-daily-usaf-pipa-news/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en-US}}

Career

Khan was coached initially by his father Roshan, the 1957 British Open champion, then by his brother Torsam. After his brother's sudden death he was coached by his cousin Rehmat, who guided Khan through most of his career.

In 1979, the Pakistan selectors decided not to select Khan to play in the world championships in Australia{{cite web|url=http://www.emel.com/article?id=89&a_id=2483|title=Jahangir The Conqueror|publisher=emel.com|access-date=9 March 2016}} but he entered the World Amateur Individual Championship, at the age of 15, and became the youngest-ever winner of that event. In November 1979, Torsam Khan, who had been one of the leading international squash players in the 1970s, died suddenly of a heart attack during Australian Open match in Adelaide Australia. Torsam's death profoundly affected Khan. He considered quitting the game, but decided to pursue a career in the sport as a tribute to his brother.{{cite news | url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/4243/jahangir-khan-pakistan-squash-legend-who-took-the-sport-to-new-heights/ | title=Jahangir Khan Pakistan's Squash Legend Who Took Sport to New Heights | newspaper=Daily Times | access-date=1 July 2017}}

He retired as a player in 1993, and has served as President of the World Squash Federation from 2002 to 2008, later became Emeritus President.{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/facts/1/92062/When-was-Jahangir-Khan-born|title=When was Jahangir Khan born?|publisher=Britannica.com|access-date=2 March 2010}}

= World Open final appearances =

cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
bgcolor="#c7dcf6" \| colspan="3" \| Wins (6)
bgcolor="#efefef" \|Year \|Opponent in final \|Score in final
1981	Geoff Hunt	7–9, 9–1, 9–2, 9–2
1982	Dean Williams	9–2, 6–9, 9–1, 9–1
1983	Chris Dittmar	9–3, 9–6, 9–0
1984	Qamar Zaman	9–0, 9–3, 9–4
1985	Ross Norman	9–4, 4–9, 9–5, 9–1
1988	Jansher Khan	9–6, 9–2, 9–2
bgcolor="#c7dcf6" \| colspan="3" \| Runners-up (3)
bgcolor="#efefef" \|Year \|Opponent in final \|Score in final
1986	Ross Norman	5–9, 7–9, 9–7, 1–9
1991	Rodney Martin	17–14, 9–15, 4–15, 13–15
1993	Jansher Khan	15–14, 9–15, 5–15, 5–15

= British Open final appearances =

cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: #aaa solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
bgcolor="#c7dcf6" \| colspan="3" \| Wins (10 consecutive)
bgcolor="#efefef" \|Year \|Opponent in final \|Score in final
1982	Hiddy Jahan	9–2, 10–9, 9–3
1983	Gamal Awad	9–2, 9–5, 9–1
1984	Qamar Zaman	9–0, 9–3, 9–5
1985	Chris Dittmar	9–3, 9–2, 9–5
1986	Ross Norman	9–6, 9–4, 9–6
1987	Jansher Khan	9–6, 9–0, 9–5
1988	Rodney Martin	9–2, 9–10, 9–0, 9–1
1989	Rodney Martin	9–2, 3–9, 9–5, 0–9, 9–2
1990	Rodney Martin	9–6, 10–8, 9–1
1991	Jansher Khan	2–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0
bgcolor="#c7dcf6" \| colspan="3" \| Runners-up (1)
bgcolor="#efefef" \|Year \|Opponent in final \|Score in final
1981	Geoff Hunt	2–9, 7–9, 9–5, 7–9

Honors and awards

1981 – At age 17 became the youngest winner of the World Open, beating Australia's Geoff Hunt in final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/170233-japan-issues-commemorative-tickets-to-celebrate-jahangir-khans-career|title=Japan issues commemorative stamp to celebrate Jahangir Khan's career|website=www.geo.tv|accessdate=20 May 2023}}
1984 – Featured on a Government of Pakistan issued postage stamp.[https://www.dawn.com/news/1230727 Postage stamp {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|pf}} Rs. 3 depicts Pakistan's youngest world squash champion Jahangir Khan in 1984 Retrieved 5 January 2016, Daily Dawn]
1999 – Sport and Youth Award by French Government[https://www.brecorder.com/2018/05/02/415457/another-honour-for-legendary-jahangir-khan/ Another honour for legendary Jahangir Khan] Retrieved, The Business Recorder
2005 – Times Award – Time Magazine named Khan as one of Asia's Heroes in the last 60 years.{{cite web

| last = Poncha

| first = Cyrus

| title = Time Magazine Asian Hero: Jahangir Khan

| date = 15 November 2005

| url = http://coachcyrus.wordpress.com/2006/11/15/time-magazine-asian-hero-jahangir-khan/

}}

2007 – Awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate of Philosophy by London Metropolitan University.[https://www.dawn.com/news/260878/honour-for-jahangir-khan Honour for Jahangir Khan] Retrieved, 12 August 2007, Dawn News
2017 – Featured on a Government of Japan issued commemorative stamp{{cite web | url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/170233-japan-issues-commemorative-tickets-to-celebrate-jahangir-khans-career | title=Japan issues commemorative stamp to celebrate Jahangir Khan's career | access-date=1 December 2017 | publisher=Geo TV}}
2018 – Winner of the 8th Asian Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sport[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311865-jehangir-khan-gets-outstanding-achievement-in-sport-award Jehangir Khan gets Outstanding Achievement in Sport Award] Retrieved, The News International
2023 – Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.{{Cite web |title=President confers Pakistan civil awards on 253 personalities |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/663505-President-confers-Pakistan-civil-awards-on-253-personalities |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Dunya News |date=14 August 2022 |language=en}}

Philanthropy

= Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) =

In 2018, Khan became global President of Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) in a ceremony held at Japan. SAF was founded by former cricketer Shahid Afridi which aims to provide healthcare and education facilities in Pakistan.[https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/shahid-afridi-jahangir-khan-come-forward-to-help-minorities-in-fighting-pandemic-1502874159.html Shahid Afridi, Jahangir Khan come forward to help minorities in fighting pandemic] Retrieved, The Statesman, 5 April 2020

= Niaz Support =

In 2023, Khan was appointed as a global goodwill ambassador for Niaz Support, a Pakistani social enterprise that provides customized wheelchairs to people with disabilities.{{cite web |last1=Islamabad |title=Jahangir Khan, Abrar-ul-Haq and Azam Jamil become the Global Goodwill Ambassadors for Niaz |url=https://islamabadpost.com.pk/jahangir-khan-abrar-ul-haq-and-azam-jamil-become-the-global-goodwill-ambassadors-for-niaz/#google_vignette |website=IslamabadPost |date=3 January 2023 |access-date=4 September 2024}}

Books

Winning Squash, Prentice Hall, 1986. Co-written with Charles Seely.
Go and Play Squash : Techniques and Tactics, Stanley Paul, 1992.
Learn Squash and Racquetball in a Weekend, Knopf / Dorling Kindersley, 1993.

References

External links

{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320084810/http://www.psa-squash.com/entry/ranking.php?player=T02869 |date=20 March 2012 |title=Jahangir Khan – PSA player profile}}
{{Squash Info|id=833}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140308234137/http://www.squashtalk.com/pakistan/khanstory3.htm The Incredible Khans of Squash: Part III Jahangir]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060220155422/http://squashtalk.com/pakistan/diner_khan3.htm The Khan Family, A Squash Dynasty Part III]
[http://www.the-south-asian.com/Nov2001/Pakistan%20squash%207.htm Pakistan Squash – The Khan Supremacy Part VII]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20051201220353/http://www.squashpics.com/pastplayers/jahangir_khan.htm Jahangir Khan page at Squashpics.com]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20060220154454/http://squashtalk.com/html/news/mbreport5.htm Details of Jahangir's rivalry with Jansher Khan]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311013852/http://www.squashtalk.com/html/columns/diner-2001-6b.htm Article on Jahangir's hardball squash rivalry with Mark Talbott]
[http://www.squashsite.co.uk/world_squash_awards.htm World Squash Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125014028/http://www.squashsite.co.uk/world_squash_awards.htm |date=25 January 2007 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070824024726/http://www.khansquash.com/ The KhanSquash Management Group] – (archived)