Karachi: Pakistan's legendary squash player Jansher Khan, who has been appointed as head coach and advisor to Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) President, Chief of Air Staff Rao Qamar Suleman, believes that if Pakistan wants to regain its lost glory in squash, then they have to work from grass-root level. “Australia and Egypt are leading the game of squash because of the fact that they have worked on the grass-root level in their respective countries. In Pakistan, federations had never worked on grass- root level, which is the reason Pakistani players are going down in the international arena,” Jansher Khan said.

Jansher said being a head coach and advisor to PSF chief, he would try his level best to lift the game of squash from grass-root level and would concentrate on junior players.

“We would also work on the senior players but our main focus would be on junior players, who would represent Pakistan in future,” he said.

He said that he is trying to muster more and more former Pakistani legends in the federation's fold in order to form an effective team.

“I am happy with the fact that both PSF president and senior vice president Razi Nawab are athletic people and they know much about sports and squash. People who have affinity have positive impact on the sports they are heading,” Jansher said.

Jansher Khan said that he is targeting top spot for his colts in World Junior Squash Championship to be held in Belgium in 13th to 17th July next year.

“If our junior players manage to pull World Junior Championship title then they would certainly be able to pull worthwhile achievements later as senior players,” Jansher explained.

He said that he would soon hire coaches and senior trainers separately for senior players, junior players and female players.

Jansher hoped that with a rigorous effort to lift the game of squash from grass-root level, they would be able to regain the lost glory.

Meanwhile, Pakistan No 2 squash player Farhan Mehboob welcomed the decision of the federation to hire Jansher Khan as the head coach.

“Certainly, he is a legendary player and with him being leading the camp, the players would be motivated,” Farhan said.

Farhan said that he has seen in the past only one coach, coaching senior, junior and female players alone, which has damaged squash.

“One coach cannot handle all the players. Having coaches and trainers separately for senior, junior and female players is a very prudent decision from the federation,” he said.

Farhan hoped that politics in the game of squash would soon end and they would be able to regain the lost glory under the new coach. - PPI