2002 Pakistan Open - Amjad Khan

AMJAD KHAN, FORMER PAKISTAN OPEN WINNER, TRIES FOR COMEBACK
Recognizing Amjad Khan's accomplishment in winning the Pakistan Open in 1998, and reaching the finals in 1999, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has given Amjad a local wild card bye into the main draw of this year's event.

Amjad Khan in PSA action two years ago.

In doing so, the nephew of former world #1 Jansher Khan was bumped over several currently higher ranking players, such as Mansoor and Shahid Zaman to get the berth. This unexpected gesture on the part of the PSF appears to have motivated Amjad to make his comeback attempt most serious.

Amjad talked about his motivation in an interview with the local newpaper The News. "It was a bit of a surprise for me too when the PSF told me that I'm going to get the wildcard," said Amjad. "This gesture acted as a catalyst. It helped me motivate myself for the Open. Now that I am fully ready for the challenge I want to assure that my performance will not be a disappointing one for anybody.

"I've been training hard with only one thing in mind: to give my best at the Pakistan Open in order to regain the title,"

GOAL - AT LEAST THREE PAKISTANIS IN MAIN DRAW?
The PSF's move in providing Amjad a bye has clearly motivated the former PSA top 12 player, who has dropped out of the world rankings due to injury. He's only 23 and could still have his best squash in front of him. But there could be other factors motivating the PSF as well. With the recent strong play on the world stage by both Mansoor and Shahid Zaman, those two players can be expected to make a strong bid to qualify on their own merits. That would then give Pakistan three berths in the main draw in their own marquee event.

The only non-Pakistani to win the Pakistan Open since its inception has been Peter Marshall of England in 1999. At that time, Marshall was working on his own comeback from chronic fatigue syndrome and the Pakistan Open win was a huge milestone for him. Prior to that, the Pakistan Open prize was monopolized by Jahangir and Jansher Khan.