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Hockey- our national game

Zarbab Ayesha Malik

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Hockey, like cricket, became a popular sport with the population. In the start, the Federation’s membership included the provincial hockey federations of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur, East Bengal, and Pakistani Armed Forces sports board. Pakistan played their first international game in London. The Pakistan Hockey Federation is the governing body for the sport of field hockey in Pakistan. It is affiliated with the International Hockey Federation. Hockey can be played on a range of surfaces, including grass, artificial turf, watered turf, and more. The game includes hitting a round hardball with large sticks. It has ten players and one goalkeeper. It became a national sport after the independence of Pakistan. Hockey is a national sport that had to be played mostly in the country but unfortunately, it is not the case. Hockey is a forgotten game in the country. Cricket is mostly selected and loved over hockey. People treat cricket as a national game instead. You can easily find people as audiences and players for cricket rather than hockey. A long-forgotten game it is now. We sometimes focus on things not so important and forget to cherish those we should. What is truly worth noting is that Pakistan is the most successful national field hockey team to date in a Hockey World Cup. The team is casually known as green shirts and called the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore as their home ground.  This is also the headquarters of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, which is the governing body for both the national men’s hockey team and national women’s hockey teams. Elaborating on the above, Pakistan’s national hockey team won the Hockey World Cups in the years 1971, 1978, 1982, 1994.  The green shirts have one of the best performances in the history of the Hockey World Cup and are also one of the most successful national teams in the Asian Games with a total of eight wins in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990 and 2010.

Pakistan’s hockey team is also the only Asian team that has won the Hockey Champions Trophy not once but thrice, in 1978, 1980, and 1994. The team got the victory in Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, Mexico in 1968, and Los Angeles in 1984. The 1971 Men’s Hockey World Cup was the inaugural tournament of the Hockey World Cup men’s field hockey tournament. It was held from 15–24 October 1971. Pakistan defeated the host team with a 1–0 victory to lift the trophy.

If things stay this way, if we don’t give much importance to hockey, the coming generation would doubt that it is our national sport. The national team was forced to reckon with. Qualifying rounds were for lesser mortals and news of such lowly contests wasn’t considered worthy of being printed. Such news did not get much limelight, it was buried deep in the sports section, even now.

In 2015, Pakistan suffered a loss at hands of minnows Ireland. Pakistan failed to qualify for Olympic hockey. No initiatives are taken to revive the spirit of the game. Public support and interest are dead. It affects a number of individuals that show interest in sports. The financial aspect cannot be ignored. Hockey was never a lucrative game in Pakistan and the apathy towards the sport has made it even less so. It is sad to know there is hardly any institutional support for Pakistan’s national sport. If it stays this way, the coming generation will forget the game altogether. A rumor was spreading that a franchise-based hockey league was being introduced but it appears that the league will not take off due to financial constraints. We need to make hockey as important as a national game should be.

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Jahangir Khan – The King of Squash

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Jahangir Khan is a man whose name is synonymous with squash. A man universally recognised as the world’s greatest ever player and an athlete who transcended his sports to be acknowledged as world’s greatest ever sportsman. A man who set the bar so high, precious few others have come close, never mind surpass his achievements.

Youngest World Amateur Champion (aged 15) Youngest British Open & World Champion (aged 17) Unbeaten in 555 consecutive matches over 5 years and 8 months – the longest winning streak of any sportsman 10 time British Open Champion (1982-1993) 6 time World Champion Played the longest squash match in history (2 hours, 46 minutes)

Through courage, determination and personal sacrifice, Jahangir Khan overcame personal tragedy to dominate and ultimately transcend the world’s most physically demanding sport.Throughout his record breaking career, Jahangir Khan used and was synonymous with only one brand.

Jahangir Khan was born in Karachi, Pakistan on the 10th December 1963 amd is considered to be the greatest player in the history of squash.

Jahangir Khan is originally from Neway Kelay Payan, Peshawar. During his career he was ranked World No.1 and won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times.

From 1981 to 1986, Jahangir was unbeaten and during that time won 555 consecutive matches – the longest winning streak by any athlete in top-level professional sport as recorded by Guinness World Records.

Jahangir retired from the Men’s Professional World Squash Tour 1993 and served as President of the World Squash Federation (WSF) from 2002 to 2008 when he became Emeritus President.

Jahangir was coached initially by his father Roshan and then by his late brother Torsam and cousin Rahmat who would go on to coach Jahangir throughout his record breaking career.

As a child Jahangir was physically very weak and despite doctors advising him not to take part in any sort of physical activity his father encouraged him to play their family game following a couple of hernia operations.

After missing out on selection for the Pakistan team for the 1979 World Championships in Australia, Jahangir entered the World Amateur Individual Championship and at 15 years-of-age became the youngest ever winner of the prestigious championship.

In November 1979, Jahangir’s older brother Torsam died suddenly of a heart attack during a tournament match in Australia. Torsam’s death affected Jahangir greatly and led to him considering quitting the game. However, Jahangir was determined to pursue a career in the sport as a tribute to his brother.

Most Notable Achievements:
Won World Amateur Championships at age 15
Youngest ever World Open Champion (aged 17)
Unbeaten in 555 consecutive matches over 5 years and 8 months
Record 10 time British Open Champion (1982-1991)
Six-time World Open Champion
First player to win World Open Championship without dropping a game
Played the longest match in the squash history 2 hours and 46 minutes
Five-year unbeaten run

In 1981, Jahangir became the youngest winner of the World Open at the age of 17 when he beat the then World No.1 Geoff Hunt Australia in the final. That championship marked the start of an unbeaten run which lasted for five years and 555 matches.

Jahangir was distinguished for his incredible fitness and stamina which Rahmat Khan helped him develop through a punishing training and conditioning regime. Jahangir was widely regarded as the fittest player in the sport.

In 1982, Jahangir astounded everyone when he won the International Squash Players Association (ISPA) Championship without losing a single point.

Jahangir’s unbeaten run finally came to end in the final of the 1986 World Open in France when he lost to Ross Norman of New Zealand. Norman had been chasing Jahangir’s unbeaten streak after being beaten time and time again. Norman was famously quoted “One day Jahangir will be slightly off his game and I will get him”.

Speaking about his unbeaten sequence of 555 consecutive matches, 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.”

At the end of 1986, compatriot Jansher Khan challenged Jahangir’s domination. Jahangir won their first few encounters in late 1986 and early 1987, but Jansher finally scored his first win over Jahangir in September 1987 with a straight games victory in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open.

Jansher then went on to beat Jahangir in their next eight consecutive encounters, including capturing the 1987 World Open title.

Jahangir managed to end Jansher’s winning streak over him in March 1988 and went on to win 11 of their next 15 meetings. The pair met in the 1988 World Open final with Jahangir emerging the victor. By that point it had become clear that squash now had two dominant players and the pair would continue to dominate the sport for the rest of the decade.

Jansher and Jahangir met a total of 37 times in professional competition with Jansher winning 19 matches, and Jahangir taking 18 matches.

Jahangir did not win the World Open after 1988 but was able to maintain a stranglehold over the prestigious British Open title which he won a record ten successive times between 1982 and 1991.

Jahangir retired from the professional World Tour in 1993 after helping Pakistan win the World Team Championship in Karachi. He was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the awards of Pride of Performance and civil award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Distinction) for his achievements in squash. Jahangir was also named Sportsman of the Millennium in Pakistan.

“Hashim Khan, Jahangir Khan, and Jansher Khan are the best squash players the world has ever known with Jahangir the best of the three. If Hollywood only knew his story of tragedy, grit and determination it would make another movie like Chariots of Fire. Many of those who know him consider him the best athlete who ever lived.”Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf

In 1990, Jahangir was elected Chairman of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and in 1997 Vice-President of the Pakistan Squash Federation. Jahangir was elected as Vice-President of the World Squash Federation (WSF) in November 1998 and in October 2002 was elected WSF President. In 2004, Jahangir was again unanimously re-elected as President of the WSF at the International Federation’s 33rd Annual General Meeting in Casa Noyale, Mauritius.

Jahangir Khan was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by London Metropolitan University for his contributions to the sport. As a result of his complete dominance in squash he was nicknamed “The Conqueror”

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Roshan Khan – A Squash Icon of Pakistan.(26 November 1929 – 6 January 2006)

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Roshan Khan, a name etched in the annals of squash history, remains an iconic figure renowned for his exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and pivotal contributions to the world of sports. Born on November 26, 1929, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Roshan Khan’s journey from a squash prodigy to a global legend is a testament to his unparalleled talent and dedication

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Khan’s squash career unfolded in an era when the sport was flourishing in Pakistan, and he emerged as a dominant force, setting new standards of excellence. His innate talent, combined with unwavering determination, propelled him to the forefront of the squash world, where he became a trailblazer.

His remarkable achievements and distinctive style of play made him a formidable opponent on the court. Khan’s tactical prowess, agility, and swift movements were renowned. He possessed an uncanny ability to outmaneuver opponents, displaying finesse and precision that mesmerized audiences and competitors alike.

Khan’s impact extended beyond individual victories; he was an integral part of the Pakistani squash dynasty that dominated the sport globally. Alongside his cousins, Azam Khan and Mo Khan, Roshan Khan propelled Pakistan to squash supremacy, securing multiple championship titles and accolades.

The pinnacle of Khan’s illustrious career came in the 1950s and 1960s, where he triumphed in prestigious tournaments, including the British Open. His victories not only solidified his legacy but also elevated Pakistan’s standing in the world of squash.

Beyond his prowess on the court, Khan was revered for his sportsmanship and humility. His demeanor both on and off the court earned him respect and admiration worldwide. He became a role model for aspiring squash players, inspiring a generation with his dedication, discipline, and grace.

Even after retiring from professional play, Roshan Khan continued to contribute to the sport, nurturing young talent and advocating for squash development in Pakistan. His commitment to the game remained unwavering until his passing on January 6, 2006, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire squash enthusiasts globally.

Roshan Khan’s name remains synonymous with excellence, his contributions to squash immortalized in the history of the sport. He stands as a testament to the heights that dedication, talent, and passion can reach, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports and serving as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

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ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets

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In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at Hyderabad in India on Tuesday.

Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 344 runs for the loss of nine wickets in allotted fifty overs.

For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis with 122 runs and Sadeera Samarawickrama with 108 remained the main scorers.

In reply, Pakistan achieved the target in 48.2 overs for the loss of four wickets.

For Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique scored 113 and Muhammad Rizwan made 131 runs.

Muhammad Rizwan was declared player of the match. 

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