ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP): World Squash Legend Jansher Khan believes national players need to improve fitness levels in order to reach up to his and other former greats level.
Jansher said our players are very talented when it comes to skills but lack physical fitness. “Players should also see to improve their physical fitness themselves as the coach and trainers already work very hard with them,” he told APP.
Jansher has won the World Open a record eight times and the British Open six times. Jansher’s skill of movement singled him out from the competition, holding all the top squash experts in awe. Jansher’s retirement brought an end to nearly 50 years of domination by Pakistan in the sport of squash.
Jansher won the World Junior Squash Championship title in 1986 and in the same year sealed the record of the youngest player to become a senior world champion. Jansher officially announced his retirement from squash in 2001.
He won a total of 99 professional titles and was ranked the World No. 1
for over 10 years.
Jansher praised Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) President Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman for his efforts in encouraging and reviving the game in the country. “PSF President has made academies in Islamabad and Peshawar which is very good and useful for the upcoming talent,” he said.
In August 2007, Jansher announced that he was coming out of retirement to play in a Professional Squash Association tournament in London in October 2007 but lost in the opening round of the event to England’s Scott Handley.
Speaking about his birthday celebration, Jansher, who tuned 47 on June 15, said he celebrates his birthday with his family as when he was abroad in the past he used to miss this time. “When I was abroad in the past he used to miss my family very much on birthdays,” he said.
