May 07, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

KARACHI, May 6: Every year when British Open, the blue-ribbon competition of squash comes, the heads roll back to remind Pakistan’s chequered past when their heroes enjoyed supremacy globally for years at a stretch.

Since coming into being almost 61 years back, Pakistan has produced an array of stars that, with some exceptions, monopolised the sport. No other country has had such a wonderful history.

Pakistan’s glorious era in the game started when legendary Hashim Khan did the country proud by capturing the prestigious title in 1951. His victim in the final was the defending champion M.A. Karim of Egypt who had won the title four times on the trot (1947-1950).

Earlier, in the pre-partition days, Egypt’s Amr Bey had pocketed the crown six times in a row (1933-1938).

The British Open was not played for seven years from 1940 to 1946.

Hashim, a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz, not only equalled Amr Bey’s feat of six-in-a-row (1951-1956) but set a new mark winning the title for an overall seventh time in 1958.

In 1957 it was Roshan Khan, father of all-time great Jahangir Khan, who interrupted Hashim’s unbeaten run by handing him a stunning defeat in the final.

Azam Khan, who took over the reign from Hashim, kept the country’s flag aloft returning with flying colours for another four years (1959-1962) whereas Mohibullah was crowned champion in 1963.

Mohibullah’s success followed the end of Pakistan’s 13-year un-interrupted domination.

In the ensuing period, Aftab Jawaid made it to the final thrice (1966, 1967 and 1971), Gogi Alauddin in 1973 and Mohammad Yasin in 1974, but the title eluded them.

Qamar Zaman, one of the finest stroke players of his time, however, crossed all barriers when he laid his hand on the title in 1975 beating compatriot Gogi Alauddin straight in an all-Pakistan final. This was Gogi’s second British Open final.

The next year Mohibullah Khan came close to capture his second title but in the end went down to Australian great Geoff Hunt in a five-set thriller.

Qamar Zaman did his best to recapture the crown but his all three attempts in 1978, 1979 and 1980 were foiled by Hunt who won six titles in a row to emulate Amr Bey, Hashim Khan and Jonnah Barrington’s feats.

Overall, Hunt had won eight titles — 1969, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 — to create a new record.

Jahangir Khan’s golden era started in 1982 and there was no stopping. In all, he garnered 10 successive victories (1982-1991) and eclipsed all records of the game which are intact to date.

During his illustrious career, Jahangir made winning a habit and it was his defeat, not victory, at the hands of New Zealand’s Ross Norman in the World Open at Toulouse, France, on Nov 11, 1986, that hit the headlines, thus ending his five-and-a-half year unbeaten reign.

Jansher Khan took over from where Jahangir left by following in his footsteps and pocketed the crown in the six successive years, 1992-1997. Together, the two great JKs ruled the world for 16 years.

Since then, the last decade has witnessed a big slump and none of the Pakistani players have come close to win laurels back to the nation. In fact, there’s no Pakistani player among the top 20.

The main round of the British Open is set to commence in Liverpool from Thursday. Only two Pakistanis — Mansoor Zaman and Amir Atlas Khan — are drawn in the main draw.

Mansoor is slated to meet defending champion and third seed Gregory Gaultier (France) while Amir takes on England’s James Willstrop, the fourth seed, in the first rounds. Amir, 17, is the youngest competitor in the main draw.

Gaultier, 25, became the first French champion in the British Open history when he beat compatriot Thierry Lincou in the final last year.

Egypt’s 28-year-old Amr Shabana, who won the World Open crown for the third time in December, is seeded on top while compatriot Ramy Ashour is seeded second in the draw.

Pakistan’s Farhan Mehboob and Adil Maqbool are to make their presence felt in the two-day qualifiers that preceded the main round.

The championship concludes on May 12 with the final.

Roll of honour

1930 C.R. Read (Eng) designated champion.

1931* D.G. Butcher (Eng) bt C.R. Read 9-6, 9-5, 9-5 at Queens Club and 9-3, 9-5, 9-3 at Conservative Club.

1932* D.G. Butcher bt C. Arnold (Eng) 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 at Conservative Club and 9-3, 9-0, 9-5 at Bath Club.

1933* F.D. Amr Bey (Egy)) bt D.G. Butcher 9-0, 9-7, 9-1 at Conservative Club and 9-5, 6-9, 9-2, 9-1 at Bath Club.

1934* F.D. Amr Bey did not receive a challenge.

1935* F.D. Amr Bey bt D.G. Butcher 9-4, 8-10, 10-8, 9-0 at Conservative Club and 9-6, 6-9, 9-2, 0-9, 9-5 at Bath Club.

1936* F.D. Amr Bey bt J.P. St. G. Dear (Eng) 9-3, 6-9, 8-10, 9-2, 9-4 at Bath Club and 9-4, 9-7, 3-9, 9-7 at RAC.

1937* F.D. Amr Bey bt J.P. St. G. Dear 9-7, 7-9, 9-7, 5-9, 9-6 at RAC and 9-7, 8-10, 9-1, 9-6 at Bath Club.

1938* F.D. Amr Bey bt J.P. St. G. Dear 10-8, 10-8, 4-9, 1-9, 9-4 at RAC and 9-7, 8-10, 9-6, 9-5 at Bath Club.

1939* J. P. St. G. Dear bt A.E. Biddle (Eng) 5-9, 9-6, 5-9, 9-6, 9-5 at Junior Carlton Club and 6-9, 9-1, 9-2, 9-6 RAC.

1940-1946 No competition was held.

1947* M.A. Karim (Egy) bt J. P. St. G. Dear 9-4, 9-1, 9-3 at Lansdowne Club and 5-9, 7-9, 9-8, 9-7, 9-4 at RAC.

1948 M.A. Karim bt J. P. St. G. Dear 9-5, 9-3, 5-9, 1-9, 10-8.

1949 M.A. Karim bt B. C. Phillips (Eng) 9-4, 9-2, 9-10, 9-4.

1950 M.A. Karim bt A. Ban (India) 9-4, 9-2, 9-7.

1951 Hashim Khan (Pak) bt M. A. Karim 9-5, 9-0, 9-0.

1952 Hashim Khan bt M. A. Karim 9-5, 9-7, 9-0.

1953 Hashim Khan bt R.B.R. Wilson (Eng) 9-2, 8-10, 9-1, 9-0.

1954 Hashim Khan bt Azam Khan (Pak) 6-9, 9-6, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5.

1955 Hashim Khan bt Azam Khan 9-7, 7-9, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7.

1956 Hashim Khan bt Roshan Khan (Pak) 9-4, 9-2, 5-9, 9-5.

1957 Roshan Khan bt Hashim Khan 6-9, 9-5, 9-2, 9-1.

1958 Hashim Khan bt Azam Khan 9-7, 6-9, 9-6, 9-7.

1959 Azam Khan bt Mohibullah Khan (Pak) 9-5, 9-0, 9-1.

1960 Azam Khan bt Roshan Khan 9-1, 9-0, 9-0.

1961 Azam Khan bt Mohibullah Khan 6-9, 9-1, 9-4, 0-9, 9-2.

1962 Azam Khan bt Mohibullah Khan 9-6, 7-9, 10-8, 2-9, 9-4.

1963 Mohibullah Khan bt A. A. Abou Taleb (Egy)

9-4, 5-9, 3-9, 10-8, 9-6.

1964 A. A. Abou Taleb bt M.A. Oddy (Sco) 9-3, 9-7, 9-0.

1965 A. A. Abou Taleb bt I. Amin (Egy) 9-0, 0-9, 9-1, 9-6.

1966 A. A. Abou Taleb bt A. A. Jawaid (Pak) 9-6, 5-9, 9-3, 9-1.

1967 J. P. Barrington (Ire) bt A. A. Jawaid (Pak) 9-2, 5-9, 9-2, 9-2.

1968 J. P. Barrington bt A. A. Abou Taleb 9-6, 9-0, 9-5.

1969 G. B. Hunt (Aus) bt C. Nancarrow (Aus) 9-5, 9-4, 9-0.

1970 J. P. Barrington bt G. B. Hunt 9-7, 3-9, 9-4, 9-4.

1971 J. P. Barrington bt A. A. Jawaid 9-1, 9-2, 9-6.

1972 J. P. Barrington bt G.B. Hunt 0-9, 9-7, 10-8, 6-9, 9-7.

1973 J. P. Barrington bt Gogi Alauddin (Pak) 9-4, 9-3, 9-2.

1974 G. B. Hunt bt M. Yasin (Pak) w/o as Yasin injured.

1975 Qamar Zaman (Pak) bt Gogi Alauddin 9-7, 9-6, 9-1.

1976 G. B. Hunt bt Mohibullah Khan (Pak) 7-9, 9-4, 8-10, 9-2, 9-2.

1977 G. B. Hunt bt C. Nancarrow (Aus) 9-4, 9-4, 8-10, 9-4.

1978 G. B. Hunt bt Qamar Zaman 7-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-2.

1979 G. B. Hunt bt Qamar Zaman 2-9, 9-7, 9-0, 6-9, 9-3.

1980 G. B. Hunt bt Qamar Zaman 9-3, 9-2, 1-9, 9-1.

1981 G. B. Hunt bt Jahangir Khan (Pak) 9-2, 9-7, 5-9, 9-7.

1982 Jahangir Khan (Pak) bt Hidayat Jahan (Pak) 9-2, 10-9, 9-3.

1983 Jahangir Khan bt G. Awad (Egy) 9-2, 9-5, 9-1.

1984 Jahangir Khan bt Qamar Zaman (Pak) 9-0, 9-3, 9-5.

1985 Jahangir Khan bt Chris Dittmar (Aus) 9-3, 9-2, 9-5.

1986 Jahangir Khan bt R. Norman (NZL) 9-6, 9-4, 9-6.

1987 Jahangir Khan bt Jansher Khan (Pak)

9-6, 9-0, 9-5.

1988 Jahangir Khan bt Rodney Martin (Aus) 9-2, 9-10, 9-0, 9-1.

1989 Jahangir Khan bt Rodney Martin (Aus) 9-2, 3-9, 9-5, 0-9, 9-2.

1990 Jahangir Khan bt Rodney Martin (Aus) 9-6, 10-8, 9-1.

1991 Jahangir Khan bt Jansher Khan (Pak) 2-9, 9-4, 9-4, 9-0.

1992 Jansher Khan bt C. Robertson (Aus) 9-7, 10-9, 9-5.

1993 Jansher Khan bt Chris Dittmar 9-6, 9-5, 6-9, 9-2.

1994 Jansher Khan bt B. Martin (Aus) 9-1, 9-0, 9-10, 9-1.

1995 Jansher Khan bt P. Marshall (Eng) 15-4, 15-4, 15-5.

1996 Jansher Khan bt Rodney Eyles (Aus) 15-13, 15-8, 15-10.

1997 Jansher Khan bt Peter Nicol (Sco) 17-15, 9-15, 15-12, 8-15, 15-8.

1998 Peter Nicol (Sco) bt Jansher Khan (Pak) 17-16, 15-4, 15-5.

1999 J. Power (Can) bt Peter Nicol (Sco) 15-17, 15-12, (retd).

2000 D .Evans (Wal) bt P. Price (Aus) 15-11, 15-6, 15-10.

2001 D. Palmer (Aus) bt C. Walker (Eng) 12-15, 13-15, 15-2 15-9, 15-5.

2002 P. Nicol bt J. White (Sco) 15-9, 15-8, 15-8.

2003 D. Palmer (Aus) bt P. Nicol 15-13, 15-13, 15-8.

2004 D. Palmer (Aus) bt Amr Shabana (Egy)

2005 A. Ricketts (Aus) bt J. Willstrop (Eng) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7.

2006 N. Matthew (Eng) bt T. Lincou (Fra) 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6

2007 G. Gaultier (Fra) bt T. Lincou 11-4, 10-12, 11-6, 11-3.

Note: The championship was instituted in 1930 and till 1946 it was played on challenge system. In case the first two home and away matches were level, the third was played to decide the winner.