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Jansher Khan: "The Last Emperor

... a retrospective of a championship career ...

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By Raju Chainani (deceased) photos © SquashTalk archives

Jansher Khan won 99 major international squash titles Jansher's titles

Jansher (left) with his great rival and predecssor Janahgir (right) rivalry

If those Empire-builders who turned the swords of the Pathans into squash rackets thought this might subdue the North west Frontier tribesmen they made a terrible mistake. The Khans, proud Pathans to a man, have been no less fearsome with rackets in their hands and for nearly 50 years have dominated the game.

The dynasty of champions originated from a little village, Nawakille, near Peshawar. Hashim, Azam, Roshan, Moibullah (Senior), Jahangir and yes, the last Emperor, Jansher.

Since 1950, they have won 29 British Opens. When the World Open was initiated in 1975, they were quick to engrave their name on this premier event. Jahangir won six, Jansher a record eight.

Jansher’s first World Open title came in 1987 at Birmingham where he defeated Jahangir in a 108 minute semi-final and Chris Dittmar 9-5. 9-4, 4-9, 9-7 in the final. His reign was short lived as the next World Open was held six months later. The first rally of the final spanned 247 strokes and lasted six minutes and sixteen seconds. Jahangir went on to win. It was to be his sixth and last World Open Victory.

Jansher off court

At the Putura World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Jansher won a five game thriller against Dittmar in the 1989. There were worried looks in his corner when he was two games down. Yasin and Qamar Zaman were his advisors and you could sense the relief when Jansher pulled through. Poor Dittmar, he had left his mark on the event with a semi-final win over Jahangir, a daring cross-court nick at the end making many in the audience rub their eyes in disbelief. But, against Jansher, it became a tale of the fittest surviving. This was Jansher’s second World Open Victory.

His third came in the cold of Toulouse. Airbus city, as it is known as, had hosted the 1986 World Open and made headline news. New Zealand’s Ross Norman beat Jahangir in the final, ending an unbeaten run of five and a half years. In 1990, Jansher had to contend with Dittmar again and did so clinically, winning in four.

Jansher's piercing eyes (photo Stephen Line)

The Adelaide Entertainment Center was the venue for the 1991 event. Ten years had passed since Geoff Hunt’s win over Qamar Zaman. On finals day, Hunt was at the courtside, coaching Rodney Martin who had beaten Jansher in the quarters and Dittmar in the semis. The ten year Aussie itch was soon to end as Martin beat Jahangir in the final. Looking back, in the period 1987-96, Jansher played in ten World Opens and this was the only time he succumbed before reaching the final.

He set things right the following year at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg. South Africa had opened its doors and there was $ 160,000 at stake, the richest ever tournament in the history of the game so far. The $ 175,000 Mahindra World Open in 1998 have overtaken it. At Johannesburg, it was Jansher versus Dittmar…..again. By now, the Aussie had lost seventeen finals to Jansher, including the 1987, 1989 and 1990 Wold Opens. This was to be another, the scoreline 15-11, 15-9, 10-`5, 15-6.

Two of Jansher’s eight World Open Victories came on home turf. He beat Jahangir in four games in 1993 at Karachi and had a similar scoreline against Rodney Eyles in 1996. In between, he had to thwart England’s attempt to upset the applecart. Peter Marshall tried in vain at Barcelona in 1994 and the following year, at Nicosia, Jansher overcame a brave effort from Del Harris.

Knees hampered Jansher in later years (photo Stephen Line)

Blisters had hampered his movement on court in his match with Harris. But, Jansher showed he could handle the situation and it was only at the press conference which followed that he revealed the problem with his feet. It was the hallmark of an extraordinary player.

Some men are unmistakable as great champions. Even in a tuxedo, Mike Tyson would look intimidating. Bjorn Borg’s ice-cool temperament and lightness of step were just as evident after he had changed out of his playing gear. Jansher, though, revealed his competitive rage only when he stepped on court. He combined stealth and aggression to near perfection.

When he takes a final bow, the curtain would come down on five decades of Khan domination. It is unthinkable, unmatchable in any sport. Their achievements remain etched in memory. Jansher Khan was the sixth great champion to emerge from Nawakille. Perhaps he can be regarded as the last Emperor.

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