Jansher Khan – the legendary squash player from Pakistan – was inducted into the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Hall of Fame this week, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career.
According to the media reports, the ceremony took place in Hong Kong. Nicol David, a retired Malaysian squash star, will join Khan in the PSA Hall of Fame. They are the third and fourth inductees into the PSA Hall of Fame, which was founded earlier this year to recognize the sport’s most significant figures, both past and present. They join the inaugural class, which includes New Zealand’s Susan Devoy and Pakistani icon Jahangir Khan.
“Congratulations to Nicol David and Jansher Khan,” the PSA wrote on social media, sharing a photo of the two legends accepting their awards ahead of the Hong Kong Squash Open.
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Jansher Khan, a prominent component in Pakistan’s squash domination in the 1980s and 1990s, won the World Championships an unprecedented eight times in the men’s game. He also won six British Open titles, contributing to an illustrious career. Khan was World No.1 for an incredible 97 months of his career and still holds the record for the most professional titles won by a single player, with 99.
Nicol David recognized as one of the best squash players in history, dominated the sport with eight World Championship victories and an unrivaled 108-month stint as World Number One. She also won five British Open titles and two Commonwealth Games gold medals. Since retiring, David has formed the Nicol David Organization, which receives financing from the PSA Foundation as part of its Squash for Development projects. In 2021, she was admitted to the Laureus World Sports Academy, a renowned club of 69 sporting legends.
PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough thanked Khan and David for their lasting contributions to the sport. “Nicol and Jansher are two of the most iconic figures in the history of squash and have both left a lasting legacy in the sport,” according to Gough. “Nicol influenced so many squash players, both in Malaysia and around the world, and her record of nine straight years at the top of the global rankings will undoubtedly never be surpassed. She is an excellent spokesperson for the sport, and it was great to see her named Deputy Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer.”
