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The Khan Dynasty |
www.khansquash.com
The Kyber Pass
Mohibullah, Azam, Roshan, Hashim
Noted family members:
Abdul Majid Khan - Founder of the greatest squash dynasty the
world would ever know.
Hashim Khan - Seven time British Open Champion. The most
influential squash player of our time. Responsible for establishing
squash as a national sport in Pakistan.
Roshan Khan - One time British Open Champion. Know to be best
touch player ever seen and the only Khan mentioned who was rewarded
for upholding the family tradition by remaining in Pakistan.
Azam Khan - Four time British Open Champion. Owner of the
first squash club in the Khan family.
Mohibullah Khan - One time British Open Champion. Five time
North American Champion. Fastest Khan ever.
Shariff Khan - Twelve time North American Champion. The best
hardball player ever.
Jahangir Khan - Ten time British Open Champion. World Record
Holder.
Sakhi Khan - Twice World Teaching Professional Champion.
First All-American Khan to compete and graduate college. |
Our
beginnings, to say the least, were humble. Our roots can be traced
to the valley of the Khyber Pass. The departed souls of many great
warriors, who died defending the Pass, lie there. A variety of
invading armies fought each other to lay claim to this trade route.
As each surviving army enjoyed a period of dominance, it imposed its
way of life on the defeated predecessors.
Although the men were never spared, the blood of the ancient armies
of the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Mongolians, and the Huns of the
North were transferred down over the generations through the women.
The remnants of these ancient armies formed into tribal sects. These
various tribal sects are called the Pathans (the preferred name is
Pushtuns). The Pathans or Pushtuns hail being descendents of the
armies of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan.
Steeped in the traditions of each passing invader, the traditions of
the Pushtuns collected and grew.
Today, the Khans carry the same tradition in the game of squash. As
the defense of the Khyber Pass seemed dogmatic to the ancient
Pushtun, so does being the best at the game of squash seem for a
Khan.
Great grandfather Abdul Majid Khan was the founder of the Khan
Squash Dynasty.
He was very well known and was a respectable elder among the people.
He played squash with British officers as a club professional during
the Raj.
Hence, the club pro is held as the lauded position that established
the Khan Dynasty. From the surrounding farms and Khyber Pass
outposts, the Khans relocated to positions at local squash clubs.
The Khans must thank the British for providing the vehicle of our
calling. Without the Raj's game of squash, the Khans would have
continued to herd cattle near the Khyber Pass to this day.
But, Abdul Majid is credited for giving us the opportunity of
becoming ballboys and later lighting a path for us to develop into
club professionals. Abdul Majid would make our new founded
profession an honorable family business. The generations to follow
would now need to defend the family's growing reputation.
Thus, emerged the four great champions that launched the family into
global recognition.
Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Roshan Khan, and Mohibullah Khan traveled
across the globe giving the Khans a foothold in international
squash. When the great Hashim Khan established squash as a national
sport in Pakistan, the Khans would leave their homeland and migrate
throughout the world. Our family and the game of squash would
forever change.
With this change the world would come to discover the passion the
Khans felt for squash. Subsequent generations were obligated to
master the art these four champions had established. They
demonstrated that not only was playing at a world class level
necessary, but also skills as ambassadors were needed to promote the
game everywhere. Today, countless Khans are club pros, junior
coaches, and promoters of squash throughout the world.
Just as the invaders were met at the Khyber Pass, we met competitors
defending our family name in the squash circles around the world.
The Khan family now holds world records in both Hardball (North
American squash)with Sharif Khan having the most North American Open
wins ever, and Softball (International squash)with Jahangir Khan
winning the most British Opens ever.
Throughout the history of squash you'll find that the most exciting
times were when a Khan was in the midst of the fire.
The Khans have contributed more to squash than any other family in
the history of sports. From our lowly beginnings, the love of this
game has kept us focused on continuing to spread the ultimate
mind/body sport the British called squash.
For us squash had become more than just a sport. It had become a way
of life, and a great gift from Allah.
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