PESHAWAR, For the revival of the lost glory of squash, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has given a go ahead single to the Directorate General Sports KP to launch Talent Hunt Program jointly with The Bank of Khyber (BoK) in U13 boys and girls categories here at Qamar Zaman Squash Complex on Tuesday.
Legendary Jansher Khan who also joined the program as a head with coaches comprising Tahir Iqbal, Munawar Zaman, Muhammad Waseem, Alam Zeb, and Niamat Ullah. Jansher Khan hailed Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan for extending support to have a joint venture for longer duration coaching and training for the boys and girls in the age of U13 with the support of The Bank of Khyber.
Jansher Khan lauded Mahmood Khan for taking bold initiatives in the restoration and revival of squash by initiating a long duration training and coaching under qualified coaches.
Jansher Khan, who is also heading Directorate General Squash Academy, working at Qamar Zaman Squash Complex, Peshawar Sports Complex, assured that his support and guidance is aimed at bringing the derailed squash back on the right path of development. He also termed the steps being taken in the right direction.
Born on June 15, 1969, in Peshawar, Jansher Khan won the World Open a record eight times and the British Open six times, urging the players to do their hard work if they want to achieve a place in the top international ranking.
Jansher Khan also expressed the hope to conduct big tournaments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through which the junior and senior players of Pakistan will get benefit and Pakistani players would be able to achieve good ranking internationally besides the players will also get much needed experience of international competitions of squash within the country.
Jansher Khan further said that it is good omen that Chief Minister KP took these important steps for the revival of squash through development at grassroots level. Mahmood Khan took bold steps for squash and we are thankful to him from the depth of our heart for his involvement in the game.
Jansher won the World Junior Squash Championship title in 1986 and at the same year he won record of the youngest player to become Senior World Champion and also became professional that year. Jansher Khan won a total of 99 professional titles and was ranked the World’s No. 1 for over 10 years.
Three boys and one girl player will be selected for three year under qualified coaches and will be supported by The Bank of Khyber with 110 boys and girls players turned up on the opening day trials.
Free accommodation during these trials and matches for players coming to Peshawar from all over the province have also been provided.
The trials for the Squash Talent Hunt Program will continue till June 4. DG Sports Asfandyar Khan Khattak thanked The Bank of Khyber for extending support to the players. He said BoK has already been leading in sports as well as other activities to improve society.
The series continues and now once again the Bank of Khyber has taken this step with us to promote the game of squash and provide opportunities for new players to come forward, he said. “We are also at the forefront of squash development.
“Our coaches and technical officials are also participating in this program and we hope that we will get the best players,” he said. He said that such programs will continue in the future as well.
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