Squash legend Jansher Khan believes that until the financial health of squash players improve, Pakistan cannot hope to regain past glory in the sport.
The downfall of squash is mainly due to the fact that our players don’t get the required financial benefits from representing their country, Jansher told PTI in an interview on Monday.
The champion from the small hamlet of Nawakheli on the outskirts of Peshawar ruled the squash world by winning the World Open title eight times and the prestigious British Open six times between 1987 and 96. Jansher and Jahangir Khan dominated world squash for nearly two decades with their rivalry becoming a folklore.
"People ask me why have our squash standard dipped. The truth is Pakistan is struggling in every other sport other than cricket because there is no private sponsorship or government support for them," the 48-year old said.
"In no sport can we achieve good results until the government and private corporations get together to support the players. These sportsmen and women are our national assets and need to be given strong financial backing," he added.
Jansher minced no words in stating that Pakistan's biggest problem in sports was a lack of employment for players. "Until the financial health and stability of these players improves don’t expect any miracles from them," he said.
He noted that India had started doing well in other sports at the top level because the government was investing a lot of funds into sports and players coaching/training and because its private sector was also strongly supporting different sports, which as led to the emergence of top leagues of different sports and is helping the nation improve.
Jansher said he also couldn’t have achieved the laurels he did for his country if the national airlines had not supported him in every way at the start of his career.
"If a sportsman or woman is financially unstable and worried about where his next rupee is going to come from how can he concentrate and focus on his game?" he said.
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