LAHORE, Aug 10: Former world champion Jansher Khan has decided to return to the international arena, withdrawing his retirement which he had announced some five years ago.

Announcing his decision at a press conference here Saturday, Jansher said “I have gained complete fitness and feeling eagerness to again appear at the court to earn glory for the country as well as myself”.

Jansher announced his retirement in 1997 after the British Open. He again tried to make a come back two years later when appeared in the Dutch Open but a nagging knee forced him to to quit for the second time.

“I have got my knees operated and now I am playing squash for the last three months without any problem. It boosted my morale and prompted me to make come back”, Jansher winner of eight World Open and six British Open titles said.

Elaborating his plan, Jansher said that before playing abroad he would appear in three international tournaments to be held in Pakistan this year.

The PNS tournament which is being held in Karachi from Sept 18 will be the first appearance of Jansher followed by Chief of Air Staff tournament in Peshawar and another in Lahore.

Jansher who dominated world squash for nearly a decade, was optimistic about winning the three home events. “Competing in these tournaments will bring him in top world ranking of around 40. It will also boost my confidence, a necessary factor to deliver goods out of the country” he added.

While replying to a question, Jansher said that he had no plans of making a come back, but it was his complete fitness which prompted him to take the decision.

The 34-years old Jansher said that in past he had been winning international tournaments even with the fitness problems.

He said that during his long absence of five years no Pakistani player could attract the international circuit which showed that he would face little difficulties in winning the local tournaments.

Jansher said that he would also continue with his job in setting up an academy in Pakistan and claimed that there was lot of talent in Pakistan and with proper coaching quality players could be produced in abundance.

Jansher who was recently retired by PIA alongwith another squash great Jahangir Khan and cricket legend Zaheer Abbas declared that he was not facing any problems in getting sponsorship for him.