Jehangir launches squash academy

KARACHI: Legendary squash player Jehangir Khan has come forward to put a halt on the incessant decline of the country’s squash as he has launched an academy for junior players in Karachi.
“The academy would be opened in the first week of March here at the Roshan Khan Jehangir Khan Complex with the help of a private sponsor.
This is a good sign that private sector has come to support this game we have a great history in,” said Jehangir while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.
He added that they have invited junior players of all categories from the whole country. They plan on selecting 12 players.
“The selected players would be coached by Asif Khan and Abdur Rehman — former renowned players,” added Jahangir.
Jehangir said Kazim Anwar, who runs a trust, is the sponsor of this academy and under the sponsorship the players would be provided with accommodation, food, stipend, equipment, and facilitation for participation in national and international events. “This all would be free for the selected players,” he added.
He said the said program is for 3 to 5 years and in the later stage players from Karachi would also be included in this programme.
“We are giving them full support and hoping that our players would start winning at international level and break into top-10 players of the world,” said Jahangir.
Jehangir was of view that the sport’s poor state in the country demands immediate attention of the squash authorities and this kind of programs (establishing academies) should have been started by the government but sadly this that is not the case.
“It is very encouraging that private sector has shown interest in this sport and for the first time they have come forward to establish a junior academy with long term investment. This would surely bode well for the future of this sport in the country,” added Jehangir. He said squash colts of the country needed such exposure.