EXCLUSIVE: Jahangir Khan says squash must be at Olympics

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  • Pakistan's Jahangir 'Conqueror' Khan is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time.

    The Olympics remains the pinnacle of sport for athletes the world over, with nearly half the globe’s population viewing it every four years witnessing all the joy that it brings.

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    At the end, some emerge as heroes while other have to wear the medal of failure but, above all, athletes get an experience like no other – showcasing their talent on the biggest sporting platform of all.

    Squash players, however, have yet to taste this Olympic dream.

    More than astonishing, it is embarrassing that squash –played systematically in more than 150 countries of the world – has been kept out of the great sporting spectacle for so long.

    There aren’t many games that can compete with squash in terms of participating nations but the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) is yet to recognise the game’s worth and players’ continued frustration on missing out on Olympics.

    One player among those who have suffered is Pakistan’s Jahangir Khan, a squash icon and one of the greatest athletes of all time. For those who do not about Jahangir, he boasts a sporting achievement that surpasses superstars like Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher and Sachin Tendulkar.

    But his legend is not about his income or fame, it is all about his game.

    From 1981 to 1986, Jahangir went unbeaten in a staggering 555 competitive matches; he holds the Guinness World Record for the longest winning streak in professional sports.

    Known as ‘Conqueror’, Jahangir won 10 British Open Championships and six World Open titles and currently sits as the the Emeritus President of World Squash Federation (WSF).   

    Being Pakistan's torch-bearer in 2008 was as close as Jahangir Khan came to the Olympics.

    “It is sheer injustice to keep squash out of Olympics despite knowing that it is popular almost throughout the world and its fan base is massive. Now the game has also become glamorous for fans with glass courts and different changes,” Khan said to Sport360.

    “Is it what you call spirit of the game by not paving way for one of the most popular sports worldwide? If athletes can be given a wildcard to participate in Olympics to encourage different countries then why can’t authorities give a wildcard to squash?  It is high time that IOC revisits the case of squash and includes it at the Olympics because there is simply no valid reason to overlook it.”

    Squash has received some positive feeling with current IOC president Thomas Bach stating that the door always remains open for alterations to the sports on offer at the Olympics but that it will require Tokyo 2020 organisers to come and discuss it with IOC.

    “It’s heartbreaking to see your country’s athletes take part in Olympics while you’re out of it, not because of lack of talent or skill but because your beloved game is yet to get recognition.”

    Jahangir believes Bach should understand how painful it is for squash players to see their compatriots participating in the games in different disciplines.

    “I can tell you that it is really heartbreaking to see different athletes of your country to take part in Olympics and fight for honours while you are out of it, not because of lack of talent or skill but because your beloved game is yet to get recognition while so many lesser known sports get projection through Olympics,” Jahangir explained.

    “In my career, I won every title and tournament that came my way and have created all sets of records. But I will always feel there is something missing from my trophy cabinet and that is an Olympic medal. I was at the level where I could have potentially won two or three Olympic gold medals had squash been included in my time but it wasn’t meant to be. I don’t want this generation of players to suffer the same way.”

    Eight-time world champions Jansher Khan – another distinguished Pakistani squash export – echoes the sentiment of the man whose mantle he took on, telling Sport360:  “I’ve always been left baffled squash’s omission from the Olympics despite it being such a popular and well-managed sport throughout the world.

    “The discrimination should end now because squash has been unduly kept out for more than four decades, Pakistan could have clean swept Olympic medals in squash because there was a time when we used to have seven players in top 10 of the world while today we have only one player in top 50. Just like all other squash greats, it was very painful for me to sit and watch Olympics.”

    Squash’s absence from the Olmypics has been particularly galling for Pakistan, a traditional squash superpower. Two golden eras saw Pakistan pick up 30 British Open titles (the de facto World Championship until the inception of the World Open in 1976) – 10 by Jahangir, seven by Hashim Khan, six by Jansher Khan, four by Azam Khan and one each by Qamar Zaman, Mohibullah Khan and Roshan Khan. Egypt and England sit behind on 14 championships apiece, while Australia have produced champions on 13 occasions.

    Pakistan’s first golden era came from 1951-1963 when they produced champions throughout the period and then from 1982-1997, when Jahangir and Jansher dominated the world and did not allow anyone to dispossess Pakistan from British Open supremacy. The World Open is a similar story of Pakistani domination as they lead the way with 14 titles – thanks to Jansher (eight) and Jahangir (six) – while Australia (eight), Egypt (seven) and England (three) are behind them.

    Jansher Khan: Another Pakistani squash legend denied the chance to compete at the Olympics.

    Jahangir’s miraculous 555-match unbeaten streak finally came to an end in 1986 when he was beaten by New Zealand’s Ross Norman in the World Open final, though he did not let it faze him, saying: “I never felt nervous because I was physically and mentally very strong. After that defeat against Norman, I went unbeaten again for nine months and now when I look back at it, even I’m astonished. But such achievements cannot be achieved without dedication, talent and hard work – that is my message to youngsters.”

    Once Jahangir and Jansher faded away after 1997, Pakistan were unable to remain the same force and the country has failed to produce a single British Open or World Open winner since.

    So can Pakistan, a sleeping giant, revive the golden years? Jahangir feels it is possible with the right administration because the country continues to produce talented players, though nations like Egypt and England are dominating because they continue to groom future stars properly.

    Whether those stars ever get the chance to play in the Olympics, however, remains to be seen.

    It is surely time for the IOC to include squash in the Olympics, otherwise a whole generation of squash stars will rue not getting the chance to be a part of the quadrennial sporting celebration once their careers are over. Bach and company should end this injustice so that squash can finally be embraced by the spirit of the Olympics.

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