KARACHI, 1 June — Hashim Khan, the founding father of the Khans’ squash empire, will be taking part in next month’s British Open Squash Championships in Birmingham at the age of 86.
Exactly 50 years after winning the first of his record seven British Open Squash titles, Hashim will be competing in the over-60 category of the championships to be held from June 3 to 10.
The presence of the US-based Hashim — one of the greatest players of all time — will compensate for the absence of most of the leading Pakistani players in the open that has been won by him and his countrymen for a record 28 times between 1951 and 1997.
But during the last three years, no Pakistani player has reached beyond the first round of the open — the reason why national squash officials are not sending any of their top players to Birmingham this year.
However, Hashim who now takes little interest in what is happening in Pakistan squash these days, will be a part of the Open — considered to be the most prestigious squash event worldwide — as one of its biggest stars.
He won his first British Open title in the spring of 1951 shortly after arriving in London from his hometown Peshawar. He was then in his mid-thirties but still went on to dominate the sport during most of the fifties picking up a record seven British Open titles. His record was extended to eight by Australia’s Geoff Hunt before Jahangir Khan improved it to 10 in 1991.
Hashim started his annual journey back to England in 1978 to take part in the British Open vintage championships and won six consecutive titles to bring his overall total to 13.
Now he will be competing in the Over 60 event — conceding some 26 years to the event’s leading contenders.
This year, however, he could meet another legend — Jonah Barrington, who is making his second appearance at the British Open since his major hip operation two years ago.
Last year the Briton made a hesitant appearance in the Over 55 tournament, gingerly feeling his way back after years off the competitive circuit. It is fairly certain that the man who made the training pain barrier part of his life will have been in hard training for the open.
Both Hashim and Barrington have tough opponents in order to get through to each other, but if it should happen, fans will be hanging from the rafters just to catch sight of these two legends on the same court together.
Hashim faces England’s 61-year-old John Shaw in his first round match at the Edgbaston Priory Club on June 4.
British squash officials are thrilled to have Hashim back in the open.
“Hashim’s remarkable entry into this year’s British Open is testament not only to his continuing love for the sport but also to the open itself, which is held in the highest esteem by all players both past and present,” said Stuart Courtney, Chief Executive of the Squash Rackets Association (SRA).
Event promoter Paul Gittings, of the Eye Group, added: “Hashim Khan is as much revered in the world of squash as Don Bradman was in cricket — and we are delighted that he is still keen on participating in British Opens at the age of 86.” Apart from Hashim Khan, other Pakistani players appearing in the British Open are brothers Zarak and Zubair Khan.
The two will be playing in the qualifying rounds of the tournament. Zarak is the reigning Asian Games gold medalist but is presently out of the top 50 world rankings. The open will also have a Pakistani player in the women’s event for the first time in its history.
Carla Khan, a London-born girl of Pakistani origin features in the qualifying rounds of the women’s competition. The 20-year-old Carla is ranked 52 in the world and has competed in the British Open twice in the past but as an Englishwoman. She is a granddaughter of former Pakistani legend Azam Khan.