Hamza Khan, the Squash Champion expressed immense joy after the glorious victory for Pakistan in the WSF World Junior Championship in Melbourne. He defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria, bringing back the championship title after 37 years, following in the footsteps of former champion Sohail Qaisar.
During the interview, the 17-year-old athlete expressed his thoughts on the state of squash in Pakistan. He also lamented the lack of support during the early stages of his career especially during failures. He stated that no one supported him during his lows except his father. However, when he has achieved the trophy, people claim their part in it as well.
Moreover, the young athlete pointed out the disparity in support for sports in Pakistan. He further revealed that the financial struggles were another hurdle for him and many other players, revealing that his request for tickets to participate in the professional squash association was refused. The federation only supports the players till the junior level.
During the championship, Hamza was only accompanied by the director of PSA and there was no coach because of lack of funding. He urged on the importance of having a coach, especially during injuries.
Hamza has highlighted the challenges faced by squash players in the country, including the need for more substantial support from entities, the government, and sport federation.
