Spirited Khan gives Pakistan squash silver

Aamir Atlas Khan’s great run at the 16th Asian Games squash competition came to a halt in the final courtesy a brilliant performance by Malaysia’s Mohammad Azlan Iskander.

World No. 15 Iskander overpowered Khan, the nephew of former world champion Jansher Khan, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6. Iskander along with Malaysia’s top women’s player Nicol David gave their country a squash double at the Games. David, who has been world number one for a record 56 consecutive months, arrived in Guangzhou having won the Commonwealth Games title in New Delhi in October.

“Every point felt so long and I have to keep myself focused all time,” Iskander said.

Khan engaged Iskander in long rallies in all the three games, but felt he had not enough energy left in him to compete in the final after playing Ong in the semifinals.

“Azlan played well and responded by picking the balls from all corners of the court,” Khan said.

“But I feel good that after a long time we had won at least silver medal.”

Pakistan, which ruled the squash world through Jansher and Jehangir Khan until the late 1990s, last time won gold in the Asian Games through Zarak Jehan Khan in 1998.

However, Khan’s silver-medal-winning performance will do the game in the country a world of good.