Jahangir Khan

Jahangir Khan at the 2018 Asian Awards
Nickname(s)	JK
Country	Pakistan
Born	(1963-12-10) 10 December 1963 (age 60) Karachi, Pakistan
Retired	1993
Racquet used	Unsquashable
Men's singles
Highest ranking	No. 1
World Open	W (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988)
Medal record Men's squash Representing  Pakistan World Championships 1981 Toronto Singles 1982 Birmingham Singles 1983 Munich Singles 1984 Karachi Singles 1985 Cairo Singles 1988 Amsterdam Singles 1986 Toulouse Singles 1991 Adelaide Singles 1993 Karachi Singles 1987 Birmingham Singles 1989 Kuala Lumpur Singles
1st Emeritus President of the World Squash Federation
Incumbent
Assumed office 2008
Preceded by	Post created
7th President of the World Squash Federation
In office 2002–2008
Preceded by	Susie Simcock
Succeeded by	Narayana Ramachandran
Last updated: 28 April 2020.

Jahangir Khan (Pashto, Urdu: جهانګير خان born 10 December 1963) is a former professional Pakistani squash player. He won the World Open title six times, and the British Open title ten times (1982–1991). Jahangir Khan is widely regarded as the greatest squash player of all time,^[1][2][3] and one of the greatest sportsmen in Pakistan history.^[4][5] From 1981 to 1986, Khan was unbeaten and during that time won 555 consecutive matches ^[6] – the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sport as recorded by Guinness World Records.^[7][8][9]

He retired as a player in 1993, and has served, as President of the World Squash Federation from 2002 to 2008. Later in 2008, he became Emeritus President of the World Squash Federation.^[10]

Early and personal life

Khan was born on 10 December 1963 into a Pashtun family in Karachi.^{[11][12][3][13]} His family originally hailed from Nawan Kalli, a small village near Peshawar in Pakistan.^{[14][15][16][13]}

A member of the Khan family, he was born into a family of squash players; his father Roshan Khan won the British Open title in 1957, and his older brother was Torsam Khan.^[11]

His two nieces Natasha Khan (better known as Bat for Lashes) is a British singer,^[17] and Maria Khan is a professional footballer who has played for the Pakistan women national football team.^[18]

Career

Jahangir Khan was coached initially by his father Roshan, the 1957 British Open champion, then by his brother Torsam.^[11] After his brother's sudden death he was coached by his cousin Rehmat, who guided Khan through most of his career.^[11]

In 1979, the Pakistan selectors decided not to select Khan to play in the world championships in Australia^[19] but he entered the World Amateur Individual Championship, at the age of 15, and became the youngest-ever winner of that event. In November 1979, Torsam Khan, who had been one of the leading international squash players in the 1970s, died suddenly of a heart attack during Australian Open match in Adelaide Australia. Torsam's death profoundly affected Khan. He considered quitting the game, but decided to pursue a career in the sport as a tribute to his brother.^[20]

He retired as a player in 1993, and has served as President of the World Squash Federation from 2002 to 2008, later became Emeritus President.^[10][21]

World Open final appearances

British Open final appearances

Honors and awards

• 1981 – At age 17 became the youngest winner of the World Open, beating Australia's Geoff Hunt in final.^[22]
• 1984 – Featured on a Government of Pakistan issued postage stamp.^[23]
• 1999 – Sport and Youth Award by French Government^[24]
• 2005 – Times Award – Time Magazine named Khan as one of Asia's Heroes in the last 60 years.^[25]
• 2007 – Awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate of Philosophy by London Metropolitan University.^[26]
• 2017 – Featured on a Government of Japan issued commemorative stamp^[27]
• 2018 – Winner of the 8th Asian Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sport^[28]
• 2023 – Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.^[29]

Philanthropy

In 2018, Khan became global President of Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) in a ceremony held at Japan. SAF was founded by former cricketer Shahid Afridi which aims to provide healthcare and education facilities in Pakistan.^[30]