Jansher Khan

Jansher Khan PP SI HI NI (Urdu: جان شیر خان; born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan)[5][6][7] 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 January 1988 till January 1998, (513 weeks) (118 months) (9.8 Years) 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.During his career, he won PSA Professional 293 matches out of total 331, PSA Professional Tour Finals 99 out of 118 and from 1990 until 1996 in 81 matches he was unbeaten for record six years; his longest winning matches streak in top-level professional sports as recorded by Guinness World Records.[8] [8][9]

Jansher Khan
Personal information
Native nameجان شیر خان
Nickname(s)King Khan, The Punisher
Citizenship Pakistan
Born (1969-06-15) June 15, 1969
Peshawar, Pakistan
Occupation
  National Head Squash Coach to Pakistan Squash Federation
(2010–2011)

  1st Advisor to the President of the Pakistan Squash Federation
(2010–2012), (2015–2018)

[1]   Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Head Squash Coach (2020)[2]
Years active1986–2018
Employer Pakistan Armed Forces (1984) [3]
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Spouse(s)
• Violet Sough (m.1986; div.1989)

• Naseem (m.1989)

Children
3, including Kamran Khan Ayaz SherKhan, Ali SherKhan
Sport
Country Pakistan
SportSquash
Rank
From the Pakistan Government

1988  Pride of Performance[4]
1993  Sitara-i-Imtiaz[4]
1997  Hilal-e-Imtiaz [4]

2023  Nishan-i-Imtiaz
World Open
1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
FederationPakistan Squash Federation
Turned pro1986
RetiredSeptember 2002
Achievements and titles
Highest world rankingNo. 1 (January 1988 till January 1998) (513 weeks) (118 months) (9.8 Years)
Updated on September 5, 2021.

Career

Jansher Khan 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 and keep defeating him in consecutive 7 matches.

Jansher Khan started his career as an employee of Pakistan Air Force. During his career, he won PSA Professional 293 matches out of total 331, PSA Professional Tour Finals 99 out of 118 and from 1990 until 1996 in 81 matches he was unbeaten for record six years; his longest winning matches streak in top-level professional sports as recorded by Guinness World Records.[8] His main competitor Jahangir Khan won PSA Professional 134 matches out of total 164, PSA Professional Tour Finals 61 out of 80 and from 1981 until 1986 in 70 matches he was unbeaten for five years.

Jansher Khan announced his retirement from squash in 2001.[10] In late 2011 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2020, after suffering from severe back pain while praying and walking, Khan underwent double back surgery successfully at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan.[11][8]

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."[8]

Squash Coaching

In September 2020, on the request of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, 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 most other countries. On his appointment, Jansher Khan said, “I will do my best to fill the gap created in the game of squash and make the country a new world champion.”[2]

Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan Rivalry

Among the pantheon of all time squash greats, there are two men that share a name. Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan dominated the sport for the best part of two decades.

During the 1980s and 1990s they won the majority of 14 World Open titles and 16 British Open titles most are played between them. The records cover the 36 matches played between Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan from their first meeting at the Pakistan Open in 1986, to their clash in the final of the Spanish Open in March 1991.

From 36 matches played between Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan. Jansher Khan won 19 Matches and Jahangir Khan won 17 matches. Jansher Khan won a record 8 World Open and 6 British Open while Jahangir Khan won 6 World Open and a record 10 British Open.[12]

36 Matches (19 Win, 17 runner-up)

Year Total Matches Played Won By Jansher Khan Won By Jahangir Khan
1986101
19871174
1988835
1989927
1990550
1991220
Total361917

36 Matches (19 Win, 17 runner-up)

Outcome Year Tournament Round Opponent Score in the final
Runner-up1986Pakistan OpenFirst-RoundPakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 9-6, 5-9, 9-3
Runner-up1987Spanish OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 7-9, 9-7, 9-1
Runner-up1987British OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 9-0, 9-5
Winner1987Hong Kong OpenSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-2, 10-8, 9-2
Winner1987Pakistan OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan1-9, 1-9, 10-8, 9-5, 9-0
Winner1987World OpenSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan3-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-7
Winner1987US OpenSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan17-16, 8-15, 4-15, 15-10, 15-3
Winner1987Swiss MastersSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan7-9, 2-9, 10-8, 9-1, 10-9
Winner1987PIA MastersFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-2, 5-9, 9-4, 5-9, 9-2
Winner1987Al-Falaj MastersSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-2, 9-2, 5-9, 9-2
Runner-up1987Dubai Challenge Match-Pakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 9-5, 9-1
Runner-up1987Abu Dhabi Challenge Match-Pakistan Jahangir Khan9-4, 8-10, 9-1, 9-7
Winner1988Spanish OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan5-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9,0
Runner-up1988French OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-9, 10-15, 15-13, 15-5
Winner1988Monaco OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan3-9, 3-9, 9-3, 9-0, 9-4
Runner-up1988World OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 9-2, 9-2
Winner1988Singapore OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-8, 15-11, 9-15, 10-15, 15-9
Runner-up1988Pakistan OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan16-17, 10-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-7
Runner-up1988President’s Gold CupFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-10, 15-7, 10-15, 15-8
Runner-up1988Al-Falaj OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-0, 10-8, 2-9, 9-1
Runner-up1989Mennen CupFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan12-15, 15-12, 15-2, 15-7
Runner-up1989Spanish OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-10, 15-12, 15-7
Winner1988 Monaco OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan7-15, 15-11, 7-15, 15-12, 15-7
Runner-up1989Working Challenge Match-Pakistan Jahangir Khan16-17, 10-15, 15-9, 15-8, 15-7
Runner-up1989AIWA Invitation MatchFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-15, 15-10, 15-6, 3-15, 15-5
Runner-up1989Pakistan OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-11, 15-12, 15-10
Runner-up1989C.O.A. TrophyFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan0-9, 7-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-1
Winner1989Canadian OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-4, 7-15, 15-6, 9-15, 15-7
Runner-up1989Stuttgart OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-9, 15-13, 15-14
Winner1990Mennen CupSemi-FinalPakistan Jahangir Khan17-15, 15-12, 15-9
Winner1990Austrian OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan13-15, 15-11, 15-12, 15-5
Winner1990Pakistan OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan9-2, 4-9, 9-2, 9-2
Winner1990President’s Gold CupFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan7-9, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2, 9-5
Winner1990Pimm’s Premier League-Pakistan Jahangir Khan9-1, 7-9, 9-4, 9-2
Winner1991Pimm’s Premier League-Pakistan Jahangir Khan8-10, 9-2, 9-2, 9-1
Winner1991Spanish OpenFinalPakistan Jahangir Khan15-11, 10-15, 15-4, 15-7

Honour, Awards and recognition

  • Jansher Khan is the only player in the history of squash game that at the age of 16 he become Junior champion & Senior World Open champion in the same year in 1986 by beating Australia's Chris Dittmar & Pakistan Jahangir Khan. [13]
  • Jansher Khan is the only player in the history of squash game that ranked number 1 in the world from January 1988 till January 1998, (513 weeks) (118 months) (9.8 Years) [14]
  • Jansher khan is the only player in the history of squash game that despite of the passing of 25 years of his retirement from the professional squash his record has not been broken till date around the World. [15]
  • In the history of Pakistan Jansher Khan become the first Pakistani player to win four major national honours while Another squash legend Jahangir Khan, a strong Jansher Khan rival, has the honor to win three major national honors. [20]

Career

Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1987Birmingham, EnglandAustralia Chris Dittmar9–5, 9–4, 4–9, 9–6
Runner-up1988Amsterdam, NetherlandsPakistan Jahangir Khan9-6, 9-2, 9-2
Winner1989Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaAustralia Chris Dittmar7–15, 6–15, 15–4, 15–11, 15–10
Winner1990Toulouse, FranceAustralia Chris Dittmar15–8, 17–15, 13–15, 15–5
Winner1992Johannesburg, South AfricaAustralia Chris Dittmar15–11, 15–9, 10–15, 15–6
Winner1993Karachi, PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan14–15, 15–9, 15–5, 15–5
Winner1994Barcelona, SpainEngland Peter Marshall10–15, 15–11, 15–8, 15–4
Winner1995Nicosia, CyprusEngland Del Harris15–10, 17–14, 16–17, 15–8
Winner1996Karachi, PakistanAustralia Rodney Eyles15–13, 17–15, 11–15, 15–3
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Runner-up1987London, EnglandPakistan Jahangir Khan9–6, 9–0, 9–5
Runner-up1991London, EnglandPakistan Jahangir Khan2–9, 9–4, 9–4, 9–0
Winner1992London, EnglandAustralia Chris Robertson9–7, 10–9, 9–5
Winner1993London, EnglandAustralia Chris Dittmar9–6, 9–5, 6–9, 9–2
Winner1994London, EnglandAustralia Brett Martin9–1, 9–0, 9–10, 9–1
Winner1995Cardiff, WalesEngland Peter Marshall15–4, 15–4, 15–5
Winner1996Cardiff, WalesAustralia Rodney Eyles15–13, 15–8, 15–10
Winner1997Cardiff, WalesScotland Peter Nicol17–15, 9–15, 15–12, 8–15, 15–8
Runner-up1998Birmingham, EnglandScotland Peter Nicol17–16, 15–4, 15–5
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1987Hong KongAustralia Chris Dittmar9-6, 9-2, 9-5
Winner1988Hong KongAustralia Chris Dittmar15-11, 9-15, 15-6, 12-15, 15-1
Winner1989Hong KongAustralia Chris Dittmar15-8, 16-17, 15-2, 15-6
Winner1990Hong KongAustralia Chris Robertson15-6, 14-15, 15-10, 15-5
Winner1991Hong KongAustralia Tristan Nancarrow16-17, 15-6, 15-17, 15-4, 15-5
Winner1994Hong KongScotland Peter Nicol15-7, 15-10, 15-6
Winner1995Hong KongAustralia Brett Martin15-12, 15-7, 15-3
Runner-up1996Hong KongAustralia Rodney Eyles15-10, 15-10, 15-5
Winner1997Hong KongCanada Jonathon Power14-15, 15-12, 15-7, 15-2
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1987PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan1-9, 9-1, 10-8, 9-5, 9-0
Runner-up1988PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan16-17, 10-15, 15-9, 15-9, 15-7
Runner-up1989PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan15-11, 15-12, 15-10
Winner1990PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan9-2, 4-9, 9-2, 9-2
Runner-up1991PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan9-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-5
Winner1992PakistanPakistan Jahangir Khan15-13, 15-5, 15-12
Winner1994PakistanEngland Peter Marshall14-15, 15-14, 15-10, 9-15, 15-6
Winner1995PakistanAustralia Rodney Eyles15-9, 15-12, 15-8
Winner1997PakistanAustralia Anthony Hill15-11, 15-7, 15-8
Outcome Year Location Opponent in the final Score in the final
Winner1993Zurich, SwitzerlandAustralia Chris Dittmar15-10, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8
Winner1994Zurich, SwitzerlandEngland Peter Marshall8-15, 15-8, 15-7, 15-9
Winner1997Hatfield, EnglandAustralia Brett Martin9-7, 9-5, 9-2
Winner1998Hatfield, EnglandEngland Simon Parke15-12, 13-15, 15-11, 15-10

References

  1. "Squash legend Jansher Khan appointed head coach to PSF". DAWN.COM. 21 December 2010.
  2. "Jansher Khan Appointed Head Coach of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate". 17 September 2020.
  3. (PDF) https://www.worldsquash.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/210118__Jansher-Khan-Hall-of-Fame.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Jansher Khan's awards for Squash listed on Pakistan Sports Board website". Pakistan Sports Board website. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. Andrew Shelley. "Profile of Jansher Khan". Encyclopedia Britannica website. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  6. "Profile of Jansher Khan". the-south-asian.com website. November 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. 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.
  8. Jansher undergoes double back surgery successfully Dawn (newspaper), Published 1 August 2020, Retrieved 8 September 2020
  9. Ian Sansom (30 July 2010). "Great dynasties of the world: The Khans". The Guardian (newspaper). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. "2001 a disastrous year for Pakistan squash". Dawn (newspaper). 31 December 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. "Squash great Jansher Khan diagnosed with Parkinson's disease". The Times of India. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. Williams, Martin. "Jansher Khan V Jahangir Khan – Rilvary, Matches, Legacy". sportscentaur.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
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