Hiddy Jahan
Encyclopedia
Hidayet "Hiddy" Jahan is a squash
player who was ranked among the top-6 players in the world from 1970 through to 1986.
A serious accident almost killed him in 1967. He had been selected to represent Pakistan in squash's first World Team Championship, and was on a train travelling from Quetta to Karachi
for the final training camp when he leaned too far out of a railway carriage door and struck his head against a signal post. He was extremely lucky to survive.
In later years, as he established himself as a top player on the international scene, Hiddy felt that he did not receive proper support from the Pakistani squash authorities. He thus chose to go on a tour of South Africa
during the apartheid
era for purely financial reasons. For this, he was banned and his passport impounded. As a result he moved to the United Kingdom
in 1978 (he was able to secure permission to do so partly because of his British wife), and became Britain's top player through to 1984. In the last few years of his top-level career, he played represented England
in international competitions.
Hiddy was a close friend of Torsam Khan
, the older brother of Jahangir Khan
. Hiddy played an important role in helping to groom the young Jahangir, who went on to become the dominant player in the game in the 1980s. Hiddy was runner-up to Jahangir at the British Open
in 1982.
In recent years, Hiddy has been a very successful squash player in veteran's events. He has won British Open titles at Over-35, Over-40, Over-45 and Over-50 level.
Hiddy's younger brothers Zarak Jahan Khan and Zubair Jahan Khan also both became successful professional squash players on the international circuit.
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player who was ranked among the top-6 players in the world from 1970 through to 1986.
A serious accident almost killed him in 1967. He had been selected to represent Pakistan in squash's first World Team Championship, and was on a train travelling from Quetta to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
for the final training camp when he leaned too far out of a railway carriage door and struck his head against a signal post. He was extremely lucky to survive.
In later years, as he established himself as a top player on the international scene, Hiddy felt that he did not receive proper support from the Pakistani squash authorities. He thus chose to go on a tour of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the apartheid
History of South Africa in the apartheid era
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...
era for purely financial reasons. For this, he was banned and his passport impounded. As a result he moved to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1978 (he was able to secure permission to do so partly because of his British wife), and became Britain's top player through to 1984. In the last few years of his top-level career, he played represented England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in international competitions.
Hiddy was a close friend of Torsam Khan
Torsam Khan
Torsam Khan was a squash player from Pakistan. He was the son of the 1957 British Open champion Roshan Khan, and the older brother of Jahangir Khan, who went on to become arguably the greatest squash player of all-time. Torsam was groomed as a squash player by his father. In 1979, Torsam reached a...
, the older brother of Jahangir Khan
Jahangir Khan
Jahangir Khan, HI, is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from Pakistan, who is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the game. During his career he won the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times...
. Hiddy played an important role in helping to groom the young Jahangir, who went on to become the dominant player in the game in the 1980s. Hiddy was runner-up to Jahangir at the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
in 1982.
In recent years, Hiddy has been a very successful squash player in veteran's events. He has won British Open titles at Over-35, Over-40, Over-45 and Over-50 level.
Hiddy's younger brothers Zarak Jahan Khan and Zubair Jahan Khan also both became successful professional squash players on the international circuit.