ISLAMABAD - Former world squash champion Jansher Khan has said that Khyber Agency needs a sports facility like sports and squash complex to produce champions for the country.
Jansher said this during his meeting political agent of Khyber Agency Captain Khalid at the Khyber House. The squash legend apprised Captain Khalid about matter relating to different sports activities especially the development of squash.
Jansher assured Captain Khalid about his all-out help and guidance for development of squash in Khyber Agency and requested him to construct a squash complex along with the sports complex in Khyber Agency, because without providing infrastructure to youth of the agencies, it was impossible to attract them towards healthy sporting activities. “Fata youth is strongly built and if provided with opportunities, they can play sheet anchor role in helping the country win medals for it at international level.
Jansher said: “It is high time to involve Fata youth in healthy sports activities as due to sacrifices of our armed forces, the overall security situation of the tribal areas is better than the past. I strongly feel there is no dearth of talent in the tribal areas, as I know, Peshawar is the hub of squash and this region had produced a number of world champions, but now the tilt is shifted to other parts of the KP and tribal areas as well.
“The players are coming from different far flung areas of the KP and Fata. Nasir Iqbal, who is a clear indication that place like Bannu, which was known for producing hockey legends and Olympians, is making waves not only at national level, where he is occupying number 1 rankings, but also at international level as he is lone Pakistani player in the PSA top 50 players. It is quite unfortunate that Nasir is currently going through very tough period and waiting to get his name clear from the banned substance, which was found in his blood, but I am quite hopeful, he will soon get rid of it and will start leading Pakistan squash once again,” he added.
To a query regarding the predication of Jansher Khan Squash Academy (JKSA) and their future as squash players, the squash legend replied: “My academy is going great and I have already identified a few youngsters. I would reveal the names in a week time, as I want youngsters to remain focused on given task. I was not expecting to find such a brilliant talent and that too in such a short span of time. I am very glad and hope this talent will help the country in regaining its lost glory in squash.”
He said the country was blessed with so much natural raw talent. “The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is also paying top attention towards juniors. It is ideal time to pick the young talent and refer them to the PSF. I will give them the option of training at Peshawar or Islamabad, but as we are all aware of the fact that the youngsters can’t afford to shift to Islamabad due to a number of reasons, mainly they are all studying at different schools, it will be hard to convince their parents to allow them to stay in Islamabad. Anyhow, we have the facilities at Peshawar too and I can make available further facilities here.
“Pakistan squash is currently in transitional period and we have to wait for a while before regaining past glory. It is my promise that if we are provided with facilities and our suggestions are paid heed, we will be able to produce world champions in a matter of time,” Jansher concluded.
Captain Khalid thanked Jansher for his generous offer and said he would use his good offices and try to ensure squash complex and sports complex construction might start at Khyber Agency. “It is a lengthy process and we have to take into account different prospects and also try to arrange special grant, which will be required for the construction of the complex.”