Former Champ Is Ready To Help

Qamar Zaman

The APP has news that former World Squash Champion Qamar Zaman has said his services will always be there for promotion of squash and training of children who want to play the game. "After seeing huge talent in young players, I have offered my services as a coach without any charges to train junior players playing at Benazir Bhutto Squash Complex," Qamar told APP. Recalling his win at British Open in 1975, he said, "The happiest moment of my life was the one when I defeated Geoff Hunt of Australia in a battle which lasted for 2 hours and 17 minutes. 

The then prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto promptly congratulated me on phone from America. I was full of joy and proud when Pakistani flag was hoisted in Wimble Centre London."

He said he won 100 International matches and remained World Champion in 1975, 1978 and 1980. "I was World No. 2 for 11 times, which is still a record," he added.

Answering a question, Qamar added that he was interested in the game of squash since childhood but, being poor, his father could not afford rackets and balls with which his son could play but this never dampened his spirit and zeal and he practiced with a taped broken ball.

He said whenever he comes across young children who want to play squash he always advise them to work hard to restore Pakistan's top position in the world ranking.

However, talking about the squash team of Pakistan that won gold in recently concluded Asian Games, Qamar said our team was talented enough to secure top position in the Asian Games which they have showed by endearing gold.

"Our team has been proven the best one for other teams as national players worked very hard to overcome their deficiencies and their hard work has produced the desired results," he added.

To a question, he commented that the all teams did create trouble for Pakistan but they overcome them to reach the victory stand.

"Our main target was the Malaysian team as it had some good players who gave us tough time.