Thank you for the memories, Jahangir Khan!

This morning I texted Jahangir Khan, wishing him a happy 61^st birthday. He was quick to respond with a “thank you, stay blessed” note. This little interaction with the greatest squash player of all time somehow transported me back in time to the winter of 1993.

Then, I was a young reporter at The News, covering what were two of the biggest assignments of my fledgling career as a sports journalist – the 1993 World Team Squash Championship and the preceding US$120,000 World Open.

It was one of the best years for Pakistan squash. It was also the year which marked the beginning of the end of Pakistan’s reign in world squash.

And it was Jahangir Khan who made 1993 both a memorable and sad year for Pakistan squash fans.

Spotlight on squash

Let’s talk about the memorable part first.

It was really a November to remember for Pakistan squash. I had not seen the sport in the sort of limelight it was during that fortnight. There was the sort of excitement that is usually associated with major cricket matches in Pakistan.

The country was hosting both the World Open and World Team Championship at the brand-new Asif Nawaz Squash Complex in Karachi. To add to the anticipation was the fact that the mighty Jahangir Khan, ten-time British Open champion, was making a comeback after recovering from a career-threatening back injury.

Pakistan's Jahangir Khan (L) plays a shot during a match against compatriot Jansher Khan.Facebook/Jahangir Khan

Jahangir’s return had raised hopes of Pakistan’s chances of regaining the world team title from arch-rivals Australia.

Pakistan had won five world team titles between 1977-87 but had failed to claim the coveted crown in 1989 and 1991. On both those occasions, Australia reigned supreme to become the most successful nation in the history of the event with a record six titles.

With five titles, Pakistan needed one more to equal Australia’s record. And they knew this would be their best chance.

Pakistan’s top player Jansher Khan was the reigning world No.1. Jahangir’s return added greatly to the strength of the Pakistan team that also included two top-10 players – Zarak Jahan Khan and Mir Zaman Gul.

JK vs JK final

Pakistan gave a clear warning to all title aspirants especially Australia when both Jansher and Jahangir reached the final of the World Open which was played from November 18-23.

While Jansher was in the sort of form that made him a hot favorite for the title, there were a lot of apprehensions about Jahangir, both in terms of form and fitness.

Those fears weren’t assuaged when unknown Brazilian qualifier Fedrico Usandizaga took a game from the legend in a tense 53-minute encounter in the first round.

But Jahangir started to show his true class as he defeated New Zealand’s Ross Norman, the man who had ended his five-year unbeaten run in the Toulouse World Open, in the second round.

It was in the quarter-final against Australian rival Brett Martin that Jahangir was really in his element. He tamed the deceptive Martin 17-16, 17-15, 15-11 in straight games.

Among the hundreds of spectators present to witness the game was Jonah Barrington, the British squash legend. Soon after the game, Barrington, a six-time British Open champion who was in Karachi with the England team, told me: “Jahangir was fantastic and watching him play today I feel he can beat the best in the world.”

Jahangir didn’t disappoint Barrington or perhaps he did. Because in the semi-finals, he ousted leading Englishman Chris Walker to set a date with Jansher in the final.

“It was my wish to play in the final of my last event,” Jahangir told me. “I wanted to end my career on a high and now even if I lose to Jansher (in the final) I will say goodbye to professional squash as a happy man.”

On his way to the final, Jansher had rode roughshod over his rivals beating the likes of Peter Nicol, Rodney Eyles and Peter Marshal without much fuss.

In the final, the Karachi crowd was fully supporting local hero, the Karachi-born Jahangir. The packed gallery was ecstatic when Jahangir edged Jansher in the first game. But Jansher bounced back, winning the next three games comfortably to retain the World Open crown.

Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan react during a match.Facebook/Jahangir Khan

A day later, the two rivals became team-mates as the World Team Championship got underway. Pakistan marched into a much-anticipated final against Australia and didn’t disappoint the home crowd as they recorded a stunning 3-0 triumph against the defending champions.

The swansong

However, Jahangir’s swansong was yet to come.

By playing in the final of the World Open, he had earned enough points to feature in the year-ending Super Series finale in Zurich in December. Jahangir accepted the invitation. Buoyed up by the great interest in squash, my newspaper decided to send me to cover the prestigious event. It was, by the way, my first international trip as a sports reporter.

It was freezing cold when I landed in Switzerland and went straight to the Vitis Squash and Tennis Club where the first familiar face I saw was that of Jahangir. He was really pleased to see me there. “I’m glad that you are here to witness my last tournament,” he told me.

Jahangir’s first match against Australia's Brett Martin, the top seed in his group, drew a full house and the legend received a standing ovation when he won the grueling encounter 15-8, 17-14, 5-15, 8-15, 15-8.

Expectations that Jahangir will somehow end his career with a title-winning triumph soared sky-high.

But in the very next match it was all over for Jahangir as a hamstring injury forced him to concede against Australia’s Rodney Eyles midway during the match.

The legend had played his last game.

The very next day, Jahangir packed his bags and left for London leaving his Swiss squash fans sad and disappointed. The day he was leaving, dozens of posters were splashed on the walls of the Vitis Club reading: “Thank you for the memories Jahangir Khan”.

Khalid Hussain is Editor Sports at Nukta