September 24, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 16, 1423

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KARACHI, Sept 23: Former world squash champion Jansher Khan easily won his comeback game to international squash at the Chief of Naval Staff tournament Monday, then boldly declared he would return to the world’s top 10 within a year.

The Pakistani, 33, beat Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema 15-8, 15-6, 15-10 in 41 minutes in the qualifying stages of the tournament.

“I felt no fitness problems and aim to feature in the top 10 in a year’s time,” said Jansher, who came out of retirement last month after an absence of nearly three years.

Jansher, a winner of eight world titles and six British open crowns, retired in 1999 following two knee operations.

“I have a wild card entry for next month’s Chief of Air Staff international event in Peshawar and these two events will tell how I have fared,” Jansher said, adding he intended to compete in the World Open in Antwerp, Belgium, in December.”

Jansher was on the court for 41 minutes and was always in command against Anjema who provided the former world champion a good practice. He will now meet fellow countryman Arshad Iqbal.

However despite his easy victory Khan appeared to lack match fitness and retrieving ability — qualities which had carried him to the top in an illustrious career which started in 1987.

In other matches Pakistan’s Sameer Khan, Shah Nawaz scored commendable victories over Australian Glenn Keenan and Joey Bamington (England). Sameer took 48 minutes to overcome Keenan in straight games 15-9, 15-9, 15-5 while Shah Nawaz dropped a game in beating Bamington 7-15, 15-8, 15-9, 15-10.

The CNS international event carries prize money of 25,000 dollars and has attracted players from Egypt, Australia, England, the Netherlands and Pakistan.

World junior champion Karim Darwish of Egypt is the top seed in the tournament.