ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s squash coach Faheem Gul claimed on Monday that Aamir Atlas Khan and Farhan Mahboob were capable of winning any title in the world.
The Pakistan squash team clinched a gold medal in the recently concluded Asian Games in Guangzhou with Aamir claiming a silver in the individual event after a span of 12 years.
Zarak Jehan Khan was the last gold medallist for Pakistan in the 1998 Asian Games.
“We have done it again and players will continue with the same spirit. Now our efforts are directed towards winning a gold medal in the girls’ event of the next Asian Games,” said Gul, who was world No.8 in late 80’s.
Pakistan team has fared better under the coaching of Gul, winning the World Junior squash championship, held for the first time in Switzerland in 2008.
“The players have the potential to win some major titles as all they need is confidence on the court and mark my words, they will definitely bring Pakistan’s squash glory back,” the coach claimed, who had suggested winning tips to squash legend Jansher Khan on a number of occasions.
Gul suggested winning advice during the Asian Games team event final to Aamir Atlas Khan, who had lost his individual final against Azlan Iskander.
Aamir defeated Azlan in the team event of the final match thus taking the revenge of his individual match defeat.
“I have guided Aamir saying he (Azlan) is just a human being so he should go and display his natural game, take his time and gold medal will be his,” the coach told Dawn.
Gul, who has been appointed as the coaching director of Pakistan Squash Federation’s excellence centre, asserted: “These players — Aamir and Farhan — can play till 2014 if they remain fit and I am sure they will be next rulers in the game of squash.”
He added that Pakistan’s female players in squash were making a steady move towards development and “we can win a medal even in girls’ event.”
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