Azan Ali aims for World Champion title
Pakistani young squash player Azan Ali Khan has set his sights on becoming a World Champion, saying his goal demands extensive hard work for which he is ready.
“Squash is my family’s game. I’m the nephew of International Champion Jahangir Khan. My father trained Hamza Khan, a world champion, and he was also a coach. I’ve learned from him,” he said.
Azan brought pride to Pakistan by winning the gold medal in the Under-17 category at the 2025 Australian Junior Open Squash Championship held in Melbourne. Reflecting on his performance, Azan said the early rounds weren’t too tough, and despite dealing with mild gallbladder pain, he didn’t lose a single game and managed the discomfort with painkillers.
The championship was held from April 13 to 17 and featured 64 players from 11 different countries, making Azan’s victory even more impressive.
“My next target is to become a world champion, which requires more sponsors. Currently, I’m supported by Muslim Hands, PM Youth Program, and K2 Squash. Winning matches like Jahangir Khan’s is tough and demands extensive hard work and support, he said.
“Rehan Tahir, Rana Mashhood and Javed Gilani sir are helping me with sponsorship, but I need more to participate in tournaments and improve my ranking,” he said.