Jahangir Khan (born December 10, 1963, sometimes spelled "Jehangir Khan") is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from Pakistan, who is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the game. During his career he won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times. Between 1981 and 1986, he was unbeaten in competitive play for five years. During that time he won 555 matches consecutively. This was not only the longest winning streak in squash history, but also one of longest unbeaten runs by any athlete in top-level professional sport. He retired as a player in 1993, and has served as President of the World Squash Federation since 2002. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 21 days before the next year. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Squash racquet and ball Players in a glass-backed squash court International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Squash is an indoor racquet sport that was formerly called Squash racquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball... The World Open is a squash event which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. ... The British Open Squash Championships is one of the oldest and most established tournaments in the game of squash. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the international federation for squash. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Playing career

Family tree of squash playing Khans

Jahangir was coached initially by his father, Roshan Khan, the 1957 British Open champion, and then by his cousin Rehmat Khan, who guided Jahangir through most of his career. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1240x819, 90 KB) Summary Family tree of squash playing Khans Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1240x819, 90 KB) Summary Family tree of squash playing Khans Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Roshan Khan (born November 26, 1929; died January 06, 2006) was a former squash player from Pakistan. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Rehmatullah Rehmat Khan (sometimes spelled Rhamat Khan) is a squash coach and former squash player from Pakistan. ...

In 1979, the Pakistan selectors decided not to select Jahangir to play in the world championships in Australia, judging him too weak from a recent illness. So Jahangir decided instead to enter himself in the World Amateur Individual Championship and, at the age of 15, became the youngest-ever winner of that event. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

In November 1979, Jahangir's older brother Torsam Khan, who had been one of the leading international squash players in the 1970s, died suddenly of a heart attack during a tournament match in Australia. Torsam's death affected Jahangir profoundly. He considered quitting the game, but decided to pursue a career in the sport as a tribute to his brother. Torsam Khan was a squash player from Pakistan. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... Acute myocardial infarction (AMI or MI), more commonly known as a heart attack, is a disease state that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted. ...

Five-year unbeaten run

In 1981, when he was 17, Jahangir became the youngest winner of the World Open, beating Australia's Geoff Hunt (the game's dominant player in the late-1970s) in the final. That tournament marked the start of an unbeaten run which lasted for five years and over 500 matches. The hallmark of his play was his incredible fitness and stamina, which Rehmat Khan helped him build-up through a punishing training and conditioning regime. Jahangir was quite simply the fittest player in the game, and would wear his opponents down through long rallies played at a furious pace. Geoff Hunt (born March 11, 1947) is a retired squash player from Australia who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players of all time. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ...

In 1982, Jahangir astonished everyone by winning the International Squash Players Association Championship without losing a single point. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ...

The unbeaten run finally came to end in the final of the World Open in 1986 in Toulouse, France, when Jahangir lost to New Zealand's Ross Norman. Norman had been in pursuit of Jahangir's unbeaten streak, being beaten time and time again. "One day Jahangir will be slightly off his game and I will get him," he vowed for five years. New city flag (Occitan cross) Traditional coat of arms Motto: (Occitan: For Toulouse, always more) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Midi-Pyrénées Department Haute-Garonne (31) Intercommunality Community of Agglomeration of Greater Toulouse Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc  (UMP) (since 2004) City Statistics Land... Ross Norman is a former professional squash player from New Zealand. ...

Speaking about his unbeaten streak, Jahangir said: "It wasn't my plan to create such a record. All I did was put in the effort to win every match I played and it went on for weeks, months and years until my defeat to Ross Norman in Toulouse in 1986."

"The pressure began to mount as I kept winning every time and people were anxious to see if I could be beaten. In that World Open final, Ross got me. It was exactly five years and eight months. I was unbeaten for another nine months after that defeat."

Success in the hardball game

With his dominance over the international squash game in the first half of the 1980s secure, Jahangir decided to test his ability on the North American hardball squash circuit in 1983-1986. (Hardball squash is a North American variant of the game, played on smaller courts with a faster-moving ball.) Jahangir played in 13 top-level hardball tournaments during this period, winning 12 of them. He faced the leading American player on the circuit at the time, Mark Talbott, on 11 occasions (all in tournament finals), and won 10 of their encounters. With his domination of both the softball and hardball versions of the game, Jahangir truly cemented his reputation as the world's greatest squash player. His success in North America is considered by some observers to be among the factors which led to growing intertest in the international "softball" version of squash in the continent, and the demise of the hardball game in the late-1980s and 1990s. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hardball squash is a format of the indoor racquet sport squash which was first developed in the North America in the late-nineteenth century and early-twentieth century. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Mark Talbott is a squash coach and former professional squash player from the United States. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

Rivalry with Jansher Khan

At the end of 1986 another Pakistani squash player, Jansher Khan, appeared on the international scene to challenge Jahangir's domination. (Jansher is not known to be directly related to Jahangir, but their families originate from the same village in the Peshawar region of northern Pakistan, so they may be distantly related). Jahangir won their first few encounters in late-1986 and early-1987. But Jansher scored his first win over Jahangir in September 1987, beating him in straight games in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open. Jansher then went on to beat Jahangir in their next eight consecutive encounters and capture the 1987 World Open title. Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ... Peshāwar (Urdu: پشاور; Pashto: پښور) literally means City on the Frontier in Persian and is known as Pekhawar in Pashto. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Jahangir ended Jansher's winning streak in March 1988, and went on to win 11 of their next 15 encounters. The pair met in the 1988 World Open final, with Jahangir emerging the victor. But by that point it had become clear that squash now had two dominant players. The pair would continue to dominate the game for the rest of the decade. Jansher and Jahangir met total of 37 times in tournament play. Jansher won 19 matches (74 games and 1,426 points), and Jahangir 18 matches (79 games and 1,459 points). This record doesn't include exhibition matches and league matches between them. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

Jahangir did not win the World Open again after 1988, but he continued a stranglehold over the British Open title which he captured a record ten successive times between 1982 and 1991. Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

World Open final appearances

Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Geoff Hunt (born March 11, 1947) is a retired squash player from Australia who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players of all time. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Dean Williams is a retired squash player from Australia. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Chris Dittmar (born 16 January 1964, in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian TV sports commentator who was formerly the World No. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Qamar Zaman (born 1952, in Quetta, Pakistan) is a former squash player from Pakistan. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Ross Norman is a former professional squash player from New Zealand. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Ross Norman is a former professional squash player from New Zealand. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Rodney Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ...

British Open final appearances

Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Hidayet Hiddy Jahan (born 15 March 1950, in Quetta, Pakistan) is a squash player who was ranked among the top-6 players in the world from 1970 through to 1986. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Gamal Awad (9 August 1955 - 6 November 2004) is a former squash player from Egypt. ... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Qamar Zaman (born 1952, in Quetta, Pakistan) is a former squash player from Pakistan. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Chris Dittmar (born 16 January 1964, in Adelaide, Australia) is an Australian TV sports commentator who was formerly the World No. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Ross Norman is a former professional squash player from New Zealand. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Rodney Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Rodney Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Rodney Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Geoff Hunt (born March 11, 1947) is a retired squash player from Australia who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players of all time. ...

Awards and service

Jahangir retired as a player in 1993 after helping Pakistan win the World Team Championship in Karachi. The Government of Pakistan honored Jahangir with the awards of Pride of Performance and civil award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz for his achievements in squash. They also awarded him the title of Sportsman of the Millennium. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The World Team Squash Championships are an international squash competition played between teams representing different nations. ... Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan. ... Pride of Performance is highest civil award by the Government of Pakistan to Pakistanis who did any respectable jobs in their fields. ... Hilal-i-Imtiaz or Hilal-e-Imtiaz is the eight highest honor given to a civillian in Pakistan. ...

In 1990, Jahangir was elected Chairman of the Professional Squash Association, and in 1997, Vice-President of the Pakistan Squash Federation. He was elected as Vice-President of the World Squash Federation in November 1998, and in October 2002 was elected WSF President. In 2004, he was again unanimously re-elected as President of the World Squash Federation at the International Federation's 33rd Annual General Meeting in Casa Noyale, Mauritius. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Jahangir is listed in Guinness Book of World Records as having the most world championship squash titles [1]. Guinness World Records 2007 edition. ...

Time Magazine has named Jahangir as one of Asia's Heroes in the last 60 years.

Due to his immense and absolute dominance in squash he was nicknamed "The Conqueror" (a loose translation of his first name).

See also

• List of squash players
• Jansher Khan
• World Open
• British Open Squash Championships
• Roshan Khan
• Torsam Khan
• Rehmat Khan
• World Squash Federation
• List of Pakistanis

This is a list of notable top international players of the racquet sport squash. ... Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969, in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former World No. ... The World Open is a squash event which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. ... The British Open Squash Championships is one of the oldest and most established tournaments in the game of squash. ... Roshan Khan (born November 26, 1929; died January 06, 2006) was a former squash player from Pakistan. ... Torsam Khan was a squash player from Pakistan. ... Rehmatullah Rehmat Khan (sometimes spelled Rhamat Khan) is a squash coach and former squash player from Pakistan. ... The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the international federation for squash. ... Pakistan is the sixth most populous nation in the world. ...

External links

• The Incredible Khans of Squash: Part III Jahangir
• The Khan Family, A Squash Dynasty Part III
• Pakistan Squash - The Khan Supremacy Part VII
• Jahangir Khan page at squashpics.com
• Details of Jahangir's rivalry with Jansher Khan
• Article on Jahangir's hardball squash rivalry with Mark Talbott
• World Squash Awards
• The KhanSquash Management Group