LAHORE - Squash’s Naveed Alam, one of the country’s professional coaches, has been focusing on the junior development and he is eager to transform raw squash talent into world champions.
Squash fanatic Naveed Alam started witnessing squash matches at an adolescent age and had been once an Under-19 champion of Pakistan. His achievements awarded him a place as a national head coach of Cyprus from 2010-2014. His remarkable achievements in European circuit landed him as a coach in Jahangir Khan Squash Academy. Starting from the scratch, he started transforming the raw talent into champions.
His students include Huzaifa Ibrahim, who became a junior champion and remained Asian No 1; Zaynab, who was struggling with her swings, is now No 1 in the women senior category; Marium Malik, who had the passion but lacked skill, also became U-19 girls champion but his ultimate masterpiece has been Owais Rasheed, who consecutively achieved titles in Finnish, Slovenian and Belarus Open in 2018.
Talking to The Nation, Naveed said: “I utilized the post-COVID era positively and organized various squash tournaments in Karachi, which proved very beneficial for the local players. The events include Inter School & Collegiate Squash Championship in Oct 2020, 1st Combaxx Karachi Challenging Squash in Nov 2020, Pro Squash League in April 2020, Defence Day All Karachi Junior Squash 2021 in Sep 2021, Women’s Week Squash 2021 in Sep 2021, Quaid Day Junior Squash in Dec 2021.
“The 2022 organized events include 2nd Karachi Open Squash in Jan 2022, Comkar PSA Satellite Squash in Jan 2022, Combaxx Sindh Satellite Squash in Jan 2022, Pakistan Day All National Junior & Women’s PSA Squash in March 2022, 1st Torsam Khan National Junior Squash in March 2022 and 1st KPT Junior Squash in April 2022.”
The professional coach further said: “Director FIA Sindh Amir Farooqi awarded me with a shield for services in squash. My endeavors provided various players the opportunities to compete and increase their rankings as a response. My resilience reputed me among Jahangir Khan’s disciples. Under the able guidance of legendary Jahangir Khan, I have been learning a lot and eager to continue my journey of producing world champions for Pakistan,” he said.
“My beloved country Pakistan gave me name and fame across the world and I want to pay back by serving it in the best possible manner. I am training my students with great passion and dedication and want them to learn the finest techniques of the game, practice and work so hard as this is the only way that can lead them to new heights in the world of squash. I am optimistic that one day, my students will start excelling at international circuit and winning glories for Pakistan globally,” Naveed Alam concluded.
Squash fanatic Naveed Alam started witnessing squash matches at an adolescent age and had been once an Under-19 champion of Pakistan. His achievements awarded him a place as a national head coach of Cyprus from 2010-2014. His remarkable achievements in European circuit landed him as a coach in Jahangir Khan Squash Academy. Starting from the scratch, he started transforming the raw talent into champions.
His students include Huzaifa Ibrahim, who became a junior champion and remained Asian No 1; Zaynab, who was struggling with her swings, is now No 1 in the women senior category; Marium Malik, who had the passion but lacked skill, also became U-19 girls champion but his ultimate masterpiece has been Owais Rasheed, who consecutively achieved titles in Finnish, Slovenian and Belarus Open in 2018.
Talking to The Nation, Naveed said: “I utilized the post-COVID era positively and organized various squash tournaments in Karachi, which proved very beneficial for the local players. The events include Inter School & Collegiate Squash Championship in Oct 2020, 1st Combaxx Karachi Challenging Squash in Nov 2020, Pro Squash League in April 2020, Defence Day All Karachi Junior Squash 2021 in Sep 2021, Women’s Week Squash 2021 in Sep 2021, Quaid Day Junior Squash in Dec 2021.
“The 2022 organized events include 2nd Karachi Open Squash in Jan 2022, Comkar PSA Satellite Squash in Jan 2022, Combaxx Sindh Satellite Squash in Jan 2022, Pakistan Day All National Junior & Women’s PSA Squash in March 2022, 1st Torsam Khan National Junior Squash in March 2022 and 1st KPT Junior Squash in April 2022.”
The professional coach further said: “Director FIA Sindh Amir Farooqi awarded me with a shield for services in squash. My endeavors provided various players the opportunities to compete and increase their rankings as a response. My resilience reputed me among Jahangir Khan’s disciples. Under the able guidance of legendary Jahangir Khan, I have been learning a lot and eager to continue my journey of producing world champions for Pakistan,” he said.
“My beloved country Pakistan gave me name and fame across the world and I want to pay back by serving it in the best possible manner. I am training my students with great passion and dedication and want them to learn the finest techniques of the game, practice and work so hard as this is the only way that can lead them to new heights in the world of squash. I am optimistic that one day, my students will start excelling at international circuit and winning glories for Pakistan globally,” Naveed Alam concluded.
