Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Squash legend Jansher Khan, while congratulating the new Prime Minister Imran Khan, has shown hope that the new premier and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) will play their maximum role to help regain Pakistan’s lost prestige in the sport. Jansher, who ruled the world of squash for ten years, said Thursday that there was a dire need of working in collaboration with Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to debug the challenges squash is facing at the government level. “Thirty percent of the funds provided by the government to PSF are insufficient. The remaining 70 percent is provided by PAF and it is a proof of special interest and inclination of PAF in squash which is quite appreciable. I request the PM and IPC Minister Fehmida Mirza to increase funding and support squash,” he said.

Jansher further said that as the newly elected Prime Minister himself had been a great sportsman, so no one else can better understand the problems of sportsmen and sports. “This country is full of talent, but we need to work hard on players so that we can regain our lost prestige in squash. For this purpose there is a need of increasing resources for Pakistan squash. The more junior and senior tournaments are organised in Pakistan, the better the emerging talent will be unearthed and eventually it will lead to developing children’s interest in squash,” he said. “It will dramatically attract new players towards this game and it is the only solution to make Pakistan squash successful,” added Jansher. In the end, Jansher praised Serena Hotel Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Men’s and Women’s tournament that is being held in Islamabad, where players from all over the world are participating, saying that in these tournaments Pakistan players would be able to demonstrate their excellent performances.

Published in Daily Times, September 14^th 2018.