Hamza Khan is a Pakistani junior squash player. He won the 2023 World Junior Squash Championship held in Melbourne, Australia.[2][3]

Hamza Khan
Personal information
Birth nameMuhammad Hamza Khan
NationalityPakistani
Born2006
Peshawar, Pakistan
OccupationSquash player
Years active2016 - present
Height5.7 ft 0 in (174 cm)
Weight143 lb (65 kg; 10 st 3 lb)
Sport
Country Pakistan
SportSquash
EventMen's singles
FederationPakistan Squash Federation
Coached byTahir Iqbal Khan
Achievements and titles
World finals
Highest world rankingNo. 278[1]
Updated on 23 July 2023

Early life and family

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Hamza belongs to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. His maternal uncle Shahid Zaman was formerly ranked 14th in the world. The former world champion Qamar Zaman is also a close relative of his.[2]

Career

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After winning the title Chief of Air Staff U-11 in 2016, Hamza was invited by the Pakistan Squash Federation to register as a trainee.[2] As a career start, he won the U-15 British Junior Open squash championship in 2020.[4][5] The following year, he came out on top in 2021 U-19 US Junior Open squash championship.[6] He secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Men's World Junior Squash Championships.[7]

In July 2023, Hamza achieved another milestone by winning 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.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Hamza Khan at Squash Info  
  2. ^ a b c "Hamza Khan becomes first Pakistani to win World Junior Squash Championship since 1986". Dawn. July 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Hamza qualifies for World Junior Squash Championship final". Pakistan Observer. July 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hamza Khan wins British Junior Open squash championship". The Express Tribune. January 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Pakistan's Hamza Khan wins U-15 British Junior Open 2020". The News International. January 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Hamza wins US Junior Open Squash U19 title". The News International. December 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "Hamza on cusp of history". The Express Tribune. July 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "In a first since 1986, Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship". The Express Tribune. July 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Hamza crowned new world junior squash champion". The Nation. July 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "Pakistan's Hamza Khan crowned U-19 squash champion at Asian Juniors". DAWN. 29 June 2024.