The commentator at the Melbourne Sports Center proclaimed, “Pakistan squash is back,” after the dazzling Muhammad Hamza Khan defeated the 15-year-old Egyptian Mohamed Zakaria 3-1 to win the World Junior Squash Championship on Sunday.
After falling behind 1-0, the teenage wonder from Peshawar rallied to win 3-1 and make history as the first Pakistani squash player in 37 years to claim the World Squash Trophy. In 1986, Jansher Khan was the last player to win the championship.
From 1986 until 2023, only Amir Atlas came close to matching Jansher’s performance of 15 years prior by reaching the final but ultimately fell short.
Hamza matched his brilliant Egyptian opponent stroke for stroke and played like a man possessed. Hamza was behind 12-10 in the opening set but fought back to defeat Zakaria in 71 minutes to win the championship.
Hamza, overtaken with emotion, stated, “I am very happy, thanks to Allah, thanks to my coach, and thanks to my parents.”
Hamza at the threshold of history
He stammered, “My English is not very good,” when the host asked him how he was handling the weight of his family’s and country’s high expectations. “But I’m ecstatic to have won this championship.
The host encouraged Hamza to continue speaking by telling him, “Your English is very, very good.”
Hamza continued by thanking everyone for their support and praising his coach and parents, especially his father.
The former British junior champion, now 17 years old, has been through a lot but is determined to make a go of it as a professional.
Hamza comes from a long line of famous cricketers, including British Open champion Qamar Zaman and former world No. 14 Shahid Zaman.
I’m ecstatic; this is a huge win for Hamza. Father Niazullah recalled, “I was talking to him, and he was crying with excitement and joy because he just could not believe he had won the title.” Hamza had earned the title of best young wrestler in the country.
Niazullah, speaking to The Express Tribune from Cherat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, adding, “I feel this is a result of Hamza’s talent and hard work and the prayers of the Pakistani nation.”
Niazullah’s lifelong desire came fulfilled when Hamza was named the new junior champion. It followed a difficult year in which Hamza was banned from competing for 13 weeks by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) for failing to show up to a few international tournaments to which he had submitted entries.
Hamza’s path to the junior world title was difficult because he had no early sponsors or financial backing. But he had a strong belief in his skills, and his father had promised him that his efforts would pay off.
Hamza was rescued and given strong support by the army and the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF).
His trip to the World Junior Championship was completely funded by the PSF.
I am eternally thankful to the Pakistan Security Forces and the Pakistan Army for their unwavering support, and I promise to do my best to bring honor to Pakistan in the eyes of the world if I continue to have their unwavering backing in the years to come.
Despite losing the first game of the final to Zakaria, Hamza kept his cool and steadily found his feet to play some great shots in the second game, tying the score at 8-8 and eventually winning the match 14-12.
Hamza, a two-time winner of the Asian Junior Championship and a former US U-19 champion, played wonderfully and even challenged the referee at one point as his confidence built with each passing minute.
He is an inspiration for his ability to bounce back from adversity. After leading 11-3 in the third game and 11-6 in the fourth game to clinch the victory, he collapsed into a full prostration immediately after pumping his fist in triumph.
Hamza had earlier advanced to the finals by beating Melvil Scianimanico of France in five sets (11-8, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 13-11).
Hamza arrived in Melbourne on the 13th of July, and it showed that he was taking his time during the matches as he adjusted to the court conditions.
He worked with a Dutch coach for a while, but eventually his father Niazullah’s friends had to tell him that he needed to play an offensive style to win the championship.
Moreover, Tahir Iqbal, Hamza’s coach, commented on the significance of Hamza’s victory, saying that it would draw the attention of the Pakistani government and the PSF to the young players in Pakistan.
For my younger brother, Nasir Iqbal, the best player in Pakistan, Hamza has allowed me to realize a lifelong goal. But Hamza managed it, and Nasir couldn’t,” he remarked.
I’m so happy for him. He beat the odds and came to me frustrated because he wasn’t getting to play in PSA events, which are essential for players to improve their global ranking, but he did it.
Tahir coached Hamza for three months leading up to the tournament, and the army coach mentored him in the final month.
Tahir also said that Hamza possesses the same remarkable quality as Egypt’s great Ramy Ashour: the ability to revolutionize the sport of squash. “Hamza possesses exceptional skill. Similar to what Ramy possessed. Because of his extraordinary talent and strength, he will alter the course of the game.
Niazullah, Hamza’s father, has instructed his son to take advantage of the professional opportunities presented to him in Australia, starting with the Costa North Coast Open Coffs Harbour 2023 on August 16.
Since he is already in Australia, we are making sure he stays there and has the chance to compete in this event despite the fact that it is extremely tough for us to organize for the travel at this point.
“Hamza will return to Pakistan on Aug. 21,” Niazullah stated.
Hamza’s outstanding performance at the World Junior Squash Championship in Melbourne has also been recognized by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
“Well done Hamza,” Lt. Syed Arif Hasan (ret.) and Secretary Muhammad Khalid Mehmood wrote to Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar, President of the Pakistan Squash Federation, praising Hamza and his coach.
The international community has also praised Hamza for his remarkable feat.
The World Squash Federation (WSF), the international governing body of squash, celebrated his victory by tweeting, “Pakistani squash is back!”
Hamza Khan was awarded Rs1 million by Peshawar Zalmi. “The whole nation is proud of Hamza Khan’s success,” the super league team declared.
Nawan Kili in Peshawar is where Hamza grew up; it is also where Roshan Khan, Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Mohibullah, Qamar Zaman, Jansher Khan, and Jahangir Khan all call home.
