Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Squash legend Jansher Khan on Thursday called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and discussed squash related issues here at the PM office. The former world champion sought the Prime Minister’s help for playing a role in improvement of squash in the country and lamented the fact that after dominating the world in this game for decades, the standards of squash have declined. “The meeting was very positive, the Prime Minister assured me of his full support,” Jansher said after the meeting. He said that the premier also informed him that he loved the game of squash and had been playing it for 25 years to remain fit. “The PM has very good knowledge of squash which impressed me indeed,” said Jansher.

The legendary player, expressing his thoughts, suggested that in order to promote squash in Pakistan it was inevitable to establish academies and work with junior players over a longer period. “Focusing on juniors is a solution for bringing improvement at the higher level,” he said.

The record holder of World Open individual tournament emphasized that the Pakistan Squash Federation should raise its voice in the international court of justice over the fact that the Indian lobby was trying to deprive Pakistan squash of hosting major tournaments. “In the Professional Squash Association (PSA), the Indian lobby has been continuously striving hard to deprive Pakistan of many tournaments where junior and young players could get good exposure.” He observed that junior players’ chances to shine are minimised in high profile events in which world’s best players participate and hog all the limelight. “Last year, Pakistan hosted a big tournament carrying a prize money of $50,000, which was not beneficial for Pakistan players as none of our players even made it into the second round,” he recalled.

The former world champion also suggested that the president and senior vice president of the PSF should review the performance of acting officials of the Pakistan National Squash Academy (PNSA) because, according to him, the players residing in the academy have complained about the unhygienic conditions there despite millions of rupees being spent on its maintenace. In the end Jansher said that Pakistan was the only country in the world where there was a sea of talent and the PSF should make full use of this talent, he said.

Published in Daily Times, March 3^rd 2018.