Mohsin Ali & Abdul Jabbar Faisal ISLAMABAD Former world squash champion Jansher Khan in an exclusive interview with TheNation on Friday lauded services of the outgoing Senior Vice President (SVP) of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Asim Suleman for the promotion of the game in the country. While giving full credit to Asim Suleman for the services he rendered during his tenure as SVP Khan said Asim always supported players and worked day night for the promotion of Squash in the country and brought back the old glorious days of the Pakistan squash. He also commended the keenness and zeal of the present chief of the Pakistan Squash Federation, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Sulemna who, according to him, worked daily from 4 to 5 hours focusing on the betterment of the game and to provide all facilities to the players. During the interview, Khan spoke on a wide range of issues confronting the game and advised the youngsters who are interested in playing squash to work hard and show passion in order to make their mark at home as well as at the world level. While recalling good old days Jansher said he along with other squash players used to train for 4 to 5 hours daily without any break. In our time, there were very few facilities for the players. Now-a-days players are lucky that the Pakistan Squash Federation is providing them with best facilities, in spite of the fact that not a singe Pakistani player is among the world top 20. The federation, however, is working day and night to improve the players ranking and to produce players like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, he said. To a question, Jansher welcomed the nomination of newly appointed SVP Razi Nawab and spoke highly of him for his knowledge about squash. Jansher Khan while commenting on the state of affairs of squash appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Squash Federation for bringing out the best talent and providing them with the facilities like no one other in the world had given to its players. The federation is doing all it can now it is the players turn to pay back the federation by winning major tournaments, he said. Replying to a question he said PSF was spending millions of rupees on the players, every possible facility is being provided to them and they are enjoying facilities, which even the Australian and the British players can only dream of. To a query, Jansher said he needed three years to produce a world class player. We have got the talent in the country, the only thing which we lack is proper training and lack of commitment from the players, he said. We need to train the players at the age of 8 to 10. I was the junior squash champion at the age of 16 when I won the Junior Squash championship in Australia, Khan said. Mohibullah Khan who himself has been the former world champion was also present on the occasion. While expressing his views, Mohibullah said, During our playing days we used to train for hours to get into shape but today the youngsters are shy of training hard. To a question, he said at his time, owing to Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackreys threats he refused huge amount for participating in the Indian tournaments. To yet another question, he said a number of offers were made to him by Australia and England to go there and train young players there but, Since I owe to my country which has given me name and fame, I never left my homeland nor shall I do so. I want to serve my country and I want to make it loud and clear that I dont need any slot whatsoever in PSF. It is my morale responsibility to pay back the country which has given me respect world over and I will leave no stone unturned to serve my country, he said. To another question, he said Pakistani players will be champion when they give six to eight hours daily to squash. We have sufficient talent. We have facilities of international level but it depends on players to work hard and bring the squash glory back to the country. To another question, the former legendary player said the federation should organise international squash league in major cities including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. This will immense scope to the budding players to learn and excel at national, as well as international level, he said.