Jansher Khan
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Personal information | |
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Native name | جان شیر خان |
Nickname(s) | King Khan, The Punisher |
Citizenship | Pakistani |
Born | Peshawar, Pakistan | June 15, 1969
Occupation | • National Head Squash Coach to Pakistan Squash Federation
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Head Squash Coach (2020)[2](2010–2011) • 1st Advisor to the President of the Pakistan Squash Federation |
Years active | 1986–2018 |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Spouse(s) | • Violet Sough (m.1986; div.1989) • Naseem (m.1989) |
Children | 5, including Kamran Khan
|
Sport | |
Country | ![]() |
Sport | Squash |
Rank | From the Pakistan Government
1988 • Pride of Performance[3] |
World Open | 1987, 89, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96
|
Federation | Pakistan Squash Federation |
Turned pro | 1986 |
Retired | September 2002 |
Achievements and titles | |
Highest world ranking | No. 1 (January 1988 till January 1998) |
Updated on September 5, 2021. |
Jansher Khan PP SI HI (Urdu: جان شیر خان; born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan)[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 one of the greatest squash players of all time. Ranked number 1 in the world from 1988 to 1998, Jansher Khan's 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.[7][8]
Career[]
Jansher Khan started his career with a fractured 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 then the Senior World Open title in same year, by beating Australia's Chris Dittmar in the final. At the age of 16 he became the youngest winner in the history of squash and in the same year he also defeated 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 a record in the history of squash, while his other main 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 severe back pain while praying and walking, Jansher Khan underwent double back surgery successfully at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.[10][7]
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."[7]
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.[2]
Awards and recognition[]
- Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 1997[3]
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the President of Pakistan in 1993[3]
- Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1988[3]
World Open final appearances[]
9 finals (8 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1987 | Birmingham, England | ![]() |
9–5, 9–4, 4–9, 9–6 |
Runner-up | 1988 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | ![]() |
9-6, 9-2, 9-2 |
Winner | 1989 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() |
7–15, 6–15, 15–4, 15–11, 15–10 |
Winner | 1990 | Toulouse, France | ![]() |
15–8, 17–15, 13–15, 15–5 |
Winner | 1992 | Johannesburg, South Africa | ![]() |
15–11, 15–9, 10–15, 15–6 |
Winner | 1993 | Karachi, Pakistan | ![]() |
14–15, 15–9, 15–5, 15–5 |
Winner | 1994 | Barcelona, Spain | ![]() |
10–15, 15–11, 15–8, 15–4 |
Winner | 1995 | Nicosia, Cyprus | ![]() |
15–10, 17–14, 16–17, 15–8 |
Winner | 1996 | Karachi, Pakistan | ![]() |
15–13, 17–15, 11–15, 15–3 |
Major World Series final appearances[]
- British Open: 9 finals (6 titles, 3 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Runner-up | 1987 | London, England | ![]() |
9–6, 9–0, 9–5 |
Runner-up | 1991 | London, England | ![]() |
2–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0 |
Winner | 1992 | London, England | ![]() |
9–7, 10–9, 9–5 |
Winner | 1993 | London, England | ![]() |
9–6, 9–5, 6–9, 9–2 |
Winner | 1994 | London, England | ![]() |
9–1, 9–0, 9–10, 9–1 |
Winner | 1995 | Cardiff, Wales | ![]() |
15–4, 15–4, 15–5 |
Winner | 1996 | Cardiff, Wales | ![]() |
15–13, 15–8, 15–10 |
Winner | 1997 | Cardiff, Wales | ![]() |
17–15, 9–15, 15–12, 8–15, 15–8 |
Runner-up | 1998 | Birmingham, England | ![]() |
17–16, 15–4, 15–5 |
- Hong Kong Squash Open: 9 finals (8 titles, 1 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1987 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
9-6, 9-2, 9-5 |
Winner | 1988 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-11, 9-15, 15-6, 12-15, 15-1 |
Winner | 1989 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-8, 16-17, 15-2, 15-6 |
Winner | 1990 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-6, 14-15, 15-10, 15-5 |
Winner | 1991 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
16-17, 15-6, 15-17, 15-4, 15-5 |
Winner | 1994 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-7, 15-10, 15-6 |
Winner | 1995 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-12, 15-7, 15-3 |
Runner-up | 1996 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
15-10, 15-10, 15-5 |
Winner | 1997 | Hong Kong | ![]() |
14-15, 15-12, 15-7, 15-2 |
- Pakistan Open: 9 finals (6 titles, 3 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1987 | Pakistan | ![]() |
1-9, 9-1, 10-8, 9-5, 9-0 |
Runner-up | 1988 | Pakistan | ![]() |
16-17, 10-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-7 |
Runner-up | 1989 | Pakistan | ![]() |
15-11, 15-12, 15-10 |
Winner | 1990 | Pakistan | ![]() |
9-2, 4-9, 9-2, 9-2 |
Runner-up | 1991 | Pakistan | ![]() |
9-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-5 |
Winner | 1992 | Pakistan | ![]() |
15-13, 15-5, 15-12 |
Winner | 1994 | Pakistan | ![]() |
14-15, 15-14, 15-10, 9-15, 15-6 |
Winner | 1995 | Pakistan | ![]() |
15-9, 15-12, 15-8 |
Winner | 1997 | Pakistan | ![]() |
15-11, 15-7, 15-8 |
- World Super Series: 4 finals (4 titles, 0 runner-up)
Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1993 | Zurich, Switzerland | ![]() |
15-10, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8 |
Winner | 1994 | Zurich, Switzerland | ![]() |
8-15, 15-8, 15-7, 15-9 |
Winner | 1997 | Hatfield, England | ![]() |
9-7, 9-5, 9-2 |
Winner | 1998 | Hatfield, England | ![]() |
15-12, 13-15, 15-11, 15-10 |
References[]
- ^ "Squash Legend Jansher Khan".
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Jansher Khan Appointed Head Coach".
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Jansher Khan's awards for Squash listed on Pakistan Sports Board website". Pakistan Sports Board website. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Andrew Shelley. "Profile of Jansher Khan". Encyclopedia Britannica website. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Profile of Jansher Khan". the-south-asian.com website. November 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Raju Chainani (20 August 2004). "Jansher Khan: "The Last Emperor...a retrospective of a championship career". Squash Talk Player Profiles website. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Jansher undergoes double back surgery successfully Dawn (newspaper), Published 1 August 2020, Retrieved 8 September 2020
- ^ Ian Sansom (30 July 2010). "Great dynasties of the world: The Khans". The Guardian (newspaper). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "2001 – a disastrous year for Pakistan squash". Dawn (newspaper). 31 December 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ "Squash great Jansher Khan diagnosed with Parkinson's disease". The Times of India. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
External links[]
- Jansher Khan – PSA World Tour profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 2013-04-03)
- Jansher Khan at Squash Info
- Pakistani male squash players
- Pashtun people
- 1969 births
- Living people
- Racket sportspeople from Peshawar
- Recipients of the Pride of Performance
- Recipients of Sitara-i-Imtiaz
- Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz