Aamir
Atlas - the newest sensation
on Pakistan squash horizon
From Abdul Mohi Shah,
Pakistan News International
 ISLAMABAD: The young Aamir Atlas Khan may be the
answer to a long-standing question the country's sport faces - who
would be the worthy successor of great Jahangir and Jansher Khan?
And when Pakistan would start ruling the world of squash again?
The young 14 year and 8 months old, the next in line in Khan family
stunned world No 35 M. Essam A Hafiz of Egypt in the first round of
the COAS Open on Tuesday and just fell short of springing another
surprise on Wednesday against the top seed Adrian Grant for a place
in the semis.
In two years following his entry into the competitive squash, Aamir
has made enough impression that could project him as one and
possibly the only contender in the present lot to whom the nation
could look for squash glory in a not too distant future.
"My eyes are definitely on the World title in two to three years'
time. But my immediate target is to win the World Junior
Championship to be held in New Zealand in a year's time,"
Aamir said of his future aims.
Borne on July 30, 1990 in Peshawar, Aamir is a student of 9th class
in Muslim Public School and a son of former international Atlas
Khan. Altas, who played the final of British Amateur Squash
Championship, is the elder brother of former champion Jansher Khan.
He also won no less then 20 international tournaments, but Atlas
would be remembered more for his contribution in training and early
guidance to his younger brother Jansher.
So the passion for the game very much runs in the family. It would
not be an exaggeration to say that Aamir inherited the love for
game. " I took the squash racket when I was just 7 years old. My
father, who has great love for the game, started working on my
techniques from the very start. In my early age, he was my only
coach. Slowly I increased the timing of my practice and training and
when I reached 11, I used to give six to seven hours daily to my
training," Aamir said in an exclusive talk with The News, an hour
after his match with world No 15, Adrian Grant.
It was in 2003 that he started playing competitive squash and
Aamir’s first assignment was the British Junior Championship.
"The Under-13 title at the Championship was my first ever
international crown and that gave me a big push. The title made me
realise that I am capable of playing the junior championship," Aamir
said.
The young Khan went on to land his maiden title a year after playing
junior championship. During the course of play, he also scooped up
the Milo International in Malaysia. " The title in Malaysia gave me
more courage as a few months later I had to play the World Junior
Championship in Islamabad," he said.
Though not selected as a Pakistan team member for the Team
Championship, Aamir went on to reach the semis of the individual
event and only lost to the ultimate champion. At the beginning of
2005, Aamir led the Pakistan campaign in the Asian Junior
Championship in India. "I beat last year's British Squash
Championship under-19 winner Sourav Ghosal in the final."
Aamir said his game has improved considerably mainly due to the
senior camp organized by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in
Peshawar. " I regularly play against the best of Pakistan players
like Amjad Khan, Farrukh Zaman, Naveed and Safeerullah. Playing
against these players each day has improved my game considerably,"
Aamir said.
He said that such a long camp should always be organized near to the
place where most of these players study or do their job. " Ever
since Jamshed Gul has started training me, my game has improved and
I feel I am now capable of playing against the best in the world,"
he said.
Aamir said he wanted to be in the national team for the World Team
Championship to be held in Islamabad in December.
"Now my aim is to play regularly in $12000 to $15000 prize money
tournaments and I want to improve my ranking by winning these. Now I
want to be a regular member of the Pakistan national team.
"What I lack is international experience and that is what I am
after," he concluded.
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Jamshed Gul for more joint training sessions
...
 ISLAMABAD:
National squash coach Jamshed Gul praised the performance of
national squash players in ongoing Chief of the Army Staff Squash
Championship here at Mushaf Squash Complex.
He noted that the recently concluded 49-days training of squash
players at Hashim Khan squash training centre, Peshawar is the main
reason of their (Players) improved performance.
The National coach for senior squash players was talking to PPI here
at the premises of Pakistan Sports Complex, where international
referee Faheem Gul and Secretary Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF)
Wing Commander M Zulfiqar Ahmed were also present.
"I am glad to see that our players are improving the standard of
their game and they are willing to learn the modern techniques,"
Jamshed observed.
He said during the two months long training session in Peshawar
where junior and senior players trained together has boosted their
(players) talent and confidence. He said Amir Atlas Khan, who fought
hard against top seed of COAS squash Adrin Grant (Eng) displayed
quality squash and the improvement he shown during the match was due
to joint training with seniors.
Replying to a question, he said that the Pakistan Squash Federation
has chalked out a comprehensive training program for the World Team
Men’s Squash Championship to be held in Islamabad in December this
year and the joint training sessions are the part of it.
"We have recently concluded the first session in Peshawar while the
second training session of junior and senior players will be staged
here in the mid of the current month (March)", said Jamshed.
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