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Vol 8 No. 4 Issue No.32 Oct 2004
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One didn't expect squash legend Jahangir Khan to have such a good memory as to say “Aap badle nahi'' (you have not changed) when one pointed to his bulging waistline and added “shall I show you a photo of yours at 18 in 1981?'' He didn't want to see that pic taken at the 1981 Asians the first which he won and made Pakistan President Zia proud. Zia had held that Asian purely to showcase Pakistan's talent in the sport and some six Pakistanis made the last eight Memories of all that came back when one met Jahangir when Capt Jamshed Appoo had an impulse to call him so that the youngsters gathered at the Herald Maritime Services Open could meet the greatest player of all time. Jahangir coming meant memories coming about how he saw over 20 laps of the Brabourne stadium as a warm up before his game against Chris Dittmar. What was important was that Jahangir got to see the talent India has and the next day after the finals spoke at length to the Indian kids removing all doubts they had about the sport and the training needed to reach the level he did. Jahangir got to see the future of Indian squash as Siddharth Suchde beat national champion Ritwik Bhattacharya to claim the biggest-ever top prize of Rs one lakh. Summing up his visit Jahangir said ``I met many old friends. I saw good squash. I am sure India can produce great players. Inshallah this won't be a one-off visit.'' |
Capt. Jamshed Appoo of Herald Maritime Services along with Khalid A-H-Ansari (President, SRAM) presenting a silver plaque to Squash Legend Jahangir Khan |
At the prize distribution function held at Otters Club : From left Rushabh Vora (Winner, Boys U-19), Deepak Kochar (Winner, Mens Over-40), Mahendra Agarwal (Director, ISP), Jahangir Khan (President, WSF), Siddharth Suchde (Winner, Mens), Vikram Malhotra (Winner, Boys U-15), Ashish Gupta (PRO, SRAM) |
I asked him when he looked back on his career what did he remember the pain of the pleasure because one had known him to make a lot of sacrifices in training.``Those times were different. I put in hard work and enjoyed doing it.And reached levels I had only dreamt about.'' Bloodlines obviously helped, one asked him. ``Indeed, yes.I came from the famous squash family. My father was a world champ so also my uncle. It was like a family business.I got the basics from my father.'' The father Roshan Khan was in coma in a Karachi hospital when Jahangir was here. Jahangir had an early setback when his elder brother Torsam died on court when he had just begun to shape his game. Recalling that the squash master said:``It was a big blow. Everything I achieved in squash can be attributed to Torsam. He was the best thing that happened to me.'' Second-best would be Rahmat Khan his cousin, who we are familiar with having come to India and introduced to the mainstream of Indian squash by ISP. Rahmat had been playing on the circuit but after Torsam's death he sacrificed his playing to take charge of Jahangir. Says a grateful Jahangir:``Rahmat's was a big sacrifice. That was the time when I needed somebody by my side in big tournaments and Rehmat fulfilled that need.'' |
Rahmat fine tuned his game using the latest methods which he had picked up on the English circuit. He produced coaching videos of Jahangir and also books. The works talking of the shock of a young man in a big man's game Jahangir said:``I had won the world amateur title at 15. But when I began playing the big guys I was only thinking of taking a game off them. But I surprised myself my beating the likes of Geoff Hunt. I then said to myself, `If I can beat Hunt I can take them all'. And that's how I went on to beat Jonah Barrington and Qamar Zaman.'' Mention of Zaman brought me memories of how Zaman made Jahangir dance in the final of the first Asians in Karachi in 1981 which I happened to cover. His feigning and double shots and wrist work took one's breath away. But that was only in game one.
Afterthat Jahangir took hold of the `T' and dictated the match. That's how Jahangir won the first Asian title. I was wondering whether to ask about his arch-rival Jansher who ended his reign but decided not to as not to spoil the mood. Someone else mentioned him and I overheard Jahangir saying ``Saab dadi badhaya hai.''(he has grown a beard almost like a mullah). I asked Jahangir why he assumed his present post of president of the World Squash Federation. He said: ``I always had the desire to help the game. Being president of the world body was another dream. The other dream is squash being accepted in the Olympic Games. We are in a long queue and I don't think it will happen before 2012.'’
Just right timing for Jahangir Jr to win it what? One asked him. He smiled. ``My son is two and a half years old. I don't know which sport he will choose. I can only hope it is squash.'’
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JAHANGIR'S INDIAN BROTHER If there was one compelling reason for Jahangir to visit India at short notice during the Herald Maritime Services Open, It was because of his friendship with Tariq Gore, the Otters Club player. Tariq used to visit England where their house was close to that of Jahangir's. Said Tariq during Jahangir's visit here: "In the 60s my first squash lessons were given by Jahngir's father, Roshan Khan. We grew up together and are like brothers." Why didn't he also become a squash player? one asked Gore. "My father was keen that I take up the family business and that's how squash went on the back burner." So how did he find Jahangir? "He is a great individual, a very fine human being and he loves India. When he came here he told me found no difference. The same warmth was there among the people." And Mumbai got the salute of a "fine city". No wonder Jahangir partied till the we hours with the likes of Feroz Khan, another close friend. Because of all this, one is sure Jahangir will come, see and conquer Indian squash hearts again. |