June 19, 2004

Being an ardent squash player I have always been fascinated by the big names in the world of squash like Jahangir Khan who has won innumerable world championships. Ever since I started playing squash, I have been aiming to become a champion player winning world championships like them. For me it was a dream come true when Cricket for Peace delegation visited the Islamabad Sports Complex on April 24 and thus I met Rahmat Khan, the man who has trained champions like Jahangir Khan and Jonathan Power.

Amidst the tough schedule at the Sports Complex, I managed to sneak in to interview Mr Rahmat Khan. The strongly built Khan asserted that sports is a powerful vehicle to promote friendship and goodwill among nations. “Being a sportsperson, I can tell with authority that sports is an innovative channel of promoting peace and harmony between the two nations”, he averred.

“Sports is the only field where you can win goodwill and friendship no matter who wins or loses in the competition. It is the only medium which brings the people together,” Mr Khan further added. He pointed out that sports could help in ending hostility between India and Pakistan and can build a bridge of friendship.

Tennis had been his passion right from his childhood and had even won the national junior tennis championship in Pakistan. On his getting enticed to squash Mr Khan said. “My family was into playing squash and my grandfather was a squash player of repute. My father was also a coach and had coached six-time world champion Jonathan Barrington.”

Mr Khan started his carrier as a squash player in 1970. However, he gave up his career in 1982 to become a full time coach. He went on to coach his cousins including Jahangir Khan who won 500 tournaments in his career. Under his coaching, Pakistan has been winning titles like World Junior Title, British Open and Asian Junior Title. He said that his family is the only family in the world which holds 30 world squash championship titles altogether.

According to Rahmat Khan, love and affection between the common people will strengthen friendship between India and Pakistan. “We should increase sporting links amongst all sections of the society to strengthen ties between India and Pakistan,” Mr Khan asserted. “In every field we are coming together, if love and peace is there, we will be one!” he concluded.

How I wish Rahmat Khan was my coach, then I am sure I would be the next World Champion!

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