In Melbourne last year, Hamza Khan made history. After coming back from match ball down in the semi-final to reach the championship match, the 17-year-old ended 37 years of hurt as he became Pakistan’s first WSF World Junior Champion since Jansher Khan in 1986 as he fought back from a game down to beat Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria 3-1.

Khan is in Houston, Texas, to defend his title, with the 18-year-old seeded second, behind last year’s beaten opponent Zakaria. Here are excerpts from an interview with him about last year’s triumph.

Q: Looking back to last year’s win in Australia, can you talk me through the moment you won it?

A: When I beat Zakaria, I fell on the court and gave thanks to my God and my parents; especially my father, who was my first coach too and every single time he advised me how to avoid mistakes and told me every day ‘you can win, you have a lot of skills’

When I won the title, I couldn’t believe what I had done. My first thanks was to God and I was too happy, the win made me feel really good.

Q: Pakistan is one of the great squash nations, but until your win had not had as much recent success. How much pressure did you feel in Australia?

A: When I left Pakistan for the championship, I was travelling alone and all I was thinking about was winning the championship. I did my training at midnight because I was so excited!

In 2022 in Nancy, France, I had reached the semi-final so this time, in Melbourne, I decided I had to win.

Q: What was the reaction like when you won the title?

A: After I won the title, the Pakistani community gave me so much respect, and the Pakistan Squash Federation and Army Sports Directorate gave me a lot of respect.

All the news channels showed my win so I was very happy and satisfied.

Q: How has training been since winning the World Junior Championships?

A: I have learnt a lot more. I will try my best to defend my title in Houston.

I have been training regularly and was feeling confident against Nicolas Mueller [Khan made his senior World Championship debut this year with a first round defeat to Swiss No.1 Mueller in Cairo]. I was fully satisfied that I would beat Nicolas but one day after reaching Egypt, I had a fever due to a throat infection and so I lost and also missed a good chance to improve my ranking.

Q: Which sporting heroes will be inspiring you in Houston?

A: As I mentioned before, my father is my big supporter and also the Army Sports Directorate and Pakistan Squash Federation, they all support me. Then, [Pakistan squash legends] Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan and [Egyptian former World No.1s] Ramy Ashour and Amr Shabana, I like them all very much.

I am very thankful to the whole Pakistani community, Pakistan Army Sports Directorate, Pakistan Squash Federation and my parents who support me every single time. — worldsquash.org