Hamza Khan is a Pakistani squash player who became the World Junior Squash Champion, when he won the 2023 World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia.[2][3]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Muhammad Hamza Khan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Born | 2006 Peshawar, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Squash player |
| Years active | 2016 - present |
| Height | 5.7 ft 0 in (174 cm) |
| Weight | 143 lb (65 kg; 10 st 3 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Sport | Squash |
| Event | Men's singles |
| Federation | Pakistan Squash Federation |
| Coached by | Tahir Iqbal Khan |
| Achievements and titles | |
| World finals |
|
| Highest world ranking | No. 278[1] |
| Updated on 23 July 2023 | |
Early life and family
editHamza belongs to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. His maternal uncle Shahid Zaman is well known squash player who was formerly ranked World No. 14. The former world champion Qamar Zaman is also a close relative.[2]
Career
editAfter winning the title Chief of Air Staff U-11 squash championship in 2016, Hamza was invited by the Pakistan Squash Federation to register as a trainee.[2] At the start of his international career, he won the U-15 British Junior Open Squash championship in 2020.[4][5] The following year, he came out on top in the 2021 U-19 US Junior Open squash championship.[6] He secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Men's World Junior Squash Championships.[7]
However, the highlight of his young career arrived in July 2023, when Hamza won the World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia. He defeated Muhammad Zakaria of Egypt by a score of 3-1 in the final. He is the first Pakistani to win the championship since Jansher Khan's accomplishment in 1986.[8][9]
In June 2024, Hamza won the Boys’ Under-19 title at the 31st Asian Junior Squash Championship in Islamabad, downing Malaysia’s third seed Harith Danial in straight sets 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.[10]
References
edit- ^ Hamza Khan at Squash Info
- ^ a b c "Hamza Khan becomes first Pakistani to win World Junior Squash Championship since 1986". Dawn. July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Hamza qualifies for World Junior Squash Championship final". Pakistan Observer. July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Hamza Khan wins British Junior Open squash championship". The Express Tribune. January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Pakistan's Hamza Khan wins U-15 British Junior Open 2020". The News International. January 6, 2020.
- ^ "Hamza wins US Junior Open Squash U19 title". The News International. December 23, 2021.
- ^ "Hamza on cusp of history". The Express Tribune. July 23, 2023.
- ^ "In a first since 1986, Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship". The Express Tribune. July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Hamza crowned new world junior squash champion". The Nation. July 24, 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan's Hamza Khan crowned U-19 squash champion at Asian Juniors". DAWN. 29 June 2024.
