Khan, who was named Pakistan’s ‘Sportsman of the Millennium’, is the winner of six World Open and 10 British Open titles and is undoubtedly the most successful squash player ever.
As a schoolboy, who became the youngest-ever winner of the World Amateur Championship at the age of 15, he used to get up in the wee hours of the morning for his daily run as a resident of Karachi’s Lines Area back in the 1970s.

'I would get up at around 2am for running,' says the youngest winner of the World Open squash tournament, who is famous for his considerable stamina.

When asked why he didn’t run at dawn like most athletes, Khan points out, 'I had to go to school.'

So determined was this student of PECHS Model School that he strictly followed his training regime by diligently exercising while the rest of the city slept.

'No, not when everyone was asleep,' Khan smiles as he takes a ‘run’, down memory lane.

'From Lines Area I would come on to Shahrae Faisal and run all the way to Karsaz and back, and there would be these street dogs just waiting to chase me,' he says.

'By the time I became the world junior champion, I knew each and every one of them well and visa versa,' he chuckles.

When asked if he took any precautions, like carry a cane or walking stick with him to keep the dogs away, Khan says: 'No of course not, although I would have my skipping rope with me to wave in front of the over zealous ones but those street dogs and I made friends.'

Not just Sharea Faisal, Khan also turned to Karachi’s various parks as well as the Sea View beach in order to keep up his fitness level before he moved to England as a professional squash player.

'But I would always return to Karachi after winning a tournament,' he remembers.

And did the people of Karachi give him a warn welcome?

'In the beginning, no one knew who I was and from what or where I was returning, so only my father would come to receive me at the airport. But then as my story and feats became known, I would be greeted by massive crowds who had come to show how proud they were of me. People from all over the country and walks of life would unite as Karachiites to receive their champion. I would naturally be immensely touched by the gesture.'

The squash complex where the 10-year-old Khan first got a feel of the racket has now been renamed as the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan/Jahangir Khan Squash Complex. As a child Khan was not permitted any strenuous activity by his doctors and his father Roshan Khan, himself a British Open champion, permitted him to play a little after much thought.


After ruling the world of squash for so many years, Khan retired from professional squash in 1993 and his last match too was in Karachi, in the World Open Team Championships at the DHA Creek Club in 1993, where Pakistan won again, thanks to him.

'I was given a magnificent farewell with a spectacular fireworks display. My late father was there too and he even made a speech. It was an emotional day for me,' says the living legend. 'The whole affair was recorded, of course, and I often watch it.'

Coming back to Khan’s love for Karachi — Jehangir, the recipient of the President’s Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Imtiaz, as well as several other international honours including an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the London Metropolitan University, says: 'I hate to see the people of Karachi fighting among themselves and often wonder what has happened to my city. I think it has fallen prey to someone’s evil eye and I pray that things here would become all right again.

This is the city which nurtured me, gave me love and respect and I want to bring up my children here, surrounded by that same love.'