PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s squash legend and former world No.1 Jansher Khan has thanked his fans and well-wishers for their prayers during his two back spinal stenosis lower and upper operations carried out at the Shifa International Hospital in Peshawar recently.

“I am grateful to all my fans and well-wishers for their prayers during my operations and that is why Almighty Allah gave me the strength to undergo the operations successfully,” the 51-year-old Jansher, who won a record eight World Open titles and six British Open crowns from 1987 to 1997 during an illustrious career, said.

The iconic player also bagged Pakistan Open six times and World Super Series four times. Jansher overcame compatriot and world squash king Jahangir Khan, in a number of finals, including the 1993 World Open decider in Karachi.

Explaining the reason for undergoing the operations, Jansher said, “For almost a year, I had been suffering from a severe back pain while praying, walking and playing squash but I had the ability and endurance to control that pain.”

He disclosed that after some time the pain went down in the lower legs and the doctors advised the operation as soon as possible. “I followed the doctors’ advice that led to the successful operation.

“Had I not followed the doctors’ advice and avoided the operations, it might have led to more serious health problems for me.”

Earlier, Jansher was going to the UK for the surgery but the plans changed.

“He [Jansher] was supposed to travel to the UK for the surgery for his back problem but when the pain became acute and he couldn’t even walk straight the Pakistani specialists decided to operate upon him in Peshawar,” a close aide of the champion player said from Peshawar according to Press Trust of India agency.

The back and knee problems kept troubling Jansher throughout his career and eventually led to his retirement in 2001.

“Staying world’s top-ranked player for 10 years working hard day and night to make record titles, I could not properly care about my health which resulted in knee and back problems,” the Peshawar-born Jansher, who won 293 out of his 331 professional matches in a fantastic career, stated.

Therefore, Jansher urged young players to take proper and timely care of their health.

“I would advise today’s young players that along with their hard training they must take special care of their knees and back and treat minor ailments timely to avoid serious problems in future,” Jansher concluded.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2020