We are delighted to present an exclusive interview with Carla Khan. Carla is the first recognised female squash playe of Pakistani origin. The last of the Khan Dynasty, she is the grand daughter of squash legend Azam Khan

by Mohsin Khan and Uzair Minhas

21 June 2010

Choosing Pakistan as the nation to represent rather then the country of her birth England. Khan went on to win 5 International titles and reach international top 20 rankings, in a career which saw as many highs as lows.

PakPassion.Net: Did you always wanted to be a squash player?

Carla Khan: Simple yes! From the very first moment I walked on to the court with my father I knew this is where I belong. I had watched my father play from the balcony many many times. His love of the game simply became my dream. Once I started playing I had no intentions to have any other career but to be a professional player.

PakPassion.Net: Why choose Pakistan over Britain?

Carla Khan: It started when I was 12. As a junior player I improved fast and played for England but I felt that I never fitted in as I was known as the Khan girl. I was feared and frowned upon in the England institution. So I decided I wanted to play for my father's country.

I had heard about our great dynasty and I wanted to continue our history. At 19 I started my senior squash career, I traveled to Pakistan.

I then started a very controversial career because I became known as the player who changed flags. I thinking changing countries was the best decision I made as it made me a better player, nothing would stand in my way and no one will frown upon me.

PakPassion.Net: Please talk us through your recent Liberty Bell and Irish Open.

Carla Khan: After my retirement I started coaching in America, I was really missing the world of competitive sports. I wanted to play a couple of tournaments to see if I still had it in me.

In the Swiss Open I had lost my rankings, I think I was in the 200s. I had to play the qualifiers. I got through the early rounds and reached the quarter finals where I was up against the number 1 seeded player who was ranked 30 in the world. I defeated her and qualified for the semis where I played against the world number 20 Cemille Serme. I lost out after a very close fought semi final. I was really happy as I had only trained for about a month before hand.

Then I played the Irish Open, where I struggled again because of my back. This year I played the Liberty Bell, I wanted to play for fun and just enjoy it. I had always tried and trained very hard all my career so I wanted my this tournament to be just about having fun.

PakPassion.Net: You were known to be more comfortable in a fast paced match, do you feel you haven't developed your game against slower paced players?

Carla Khan: I was always known as a hard hitter, I feel that the Pakistanis introduced this game to the whole world and Pakistani players are known for hitting the ball hard. I loved playing fast paced matches because that was my game and I felt more comfortable. When I was training I only played with male squash players which developed my hitting. As I played more matches and competitions I learnt how to play slower paced players and I learnt to vary my game from slow to fast. I still do struggle with a slower paced player because that is not my game but as a player you try to develop your weaknesses that is the whole challenge of sport.

PakPassion.Net: What are the best and worst moments of your career?

Carla Khan: Best moments were in 2004 when I was competing in Irish Open. I beat current world’s number 1, Nicol David. Beating Nicol was such a great achievement because she is true professional and by far one of the best women squash player in history of the game.

Worst moment of my career was in 2006 where I was playing South Asian Games in Sri Lanka representing Pakistan. I was competing in match in India when I injured my back and was rushed to hospital. Being told I would never compete professionally ever again. Hearing of this devastating news I felt it had wrecked my hopes and dreams. I then started the long road ahead of grueling physio.

PakPassion.Net: There is some confusion around how the Khan dynasty is structured. Are Jahansher and Jahangir Khan related to you or are you all just from the same area of Pakistan?

Carla Khan: Jahangir is related to myself he is part of the same Dynasty, Jahansher is not from our family, they are from Peshawar so not related what so ever.

My family consists of Hashim Khan, Azam Khan, Mohibullah sr, Sharif Khan. I can see why people get confused because Jahangir and Jahansher have the same last name.

PakPassion.Net: Have you met Jahaghir or Jansher Khan?

Carla Khan: Yes, I have met both Janghir and Jansher. Janaghir being relative of Great Khan Squash family. Jansher, I have met numerous times being from the same province and being family friends.

PakPassion.Net: Do people in Pakistan recognize you in public? Do you think you should be giving more exposure?

Carla Khan: People do recognize me in public which is actually great. I see emails daily from fans. I was the first woman that opened the doors for women sports in Pakistan. It made them believe its normal and enjoyable.

PakPassion.Net: Do you find anything odd about playing squash in Pakistan? dress code etc

Carla Khan: I don’t find anything odd about playing squash in Pakistan. Things have definitely changed. Dress code is absolutely fine and spectators are fantastic.

PakPassion.Net: Do you speak Phasto or Urdu?

Carla Khan: Personally I would like to say [I]Sta-roo Mashi Sanga yai[/I]. As you can see my Phasto is very limited and so is my Urdu which I am very shameful to say. But I have enrolled myself in a course to learn Phasto fluently.

PakPassion.Net: Has the Pakistani Sports Ministry provided you any support?

Carla Khan: The Pakistani Sports Ministry did not provide me with anything. No encouragement, financial support and no communication. At the time when I was in Top 20 and flying Pakistan’s flag high, I was not given any help. Travel worldwide and campaign, I had no coach! The only support I had was the backing from my parents who supported me whole heartedly throughout my career. And without their help I would have not achieved as much of as I did. I found so much politics and favoritism which was and is negative for the sports.

PakPassion.Net: If more support would have been given do you think that you would have been able to achieve more?

Carla Khan: Unfortunately there was no communication between Sports Ministry and me. Which is a great shame for them. Unlike all of the other Pakistani elite players it was their duty to help me as I was top sportswomen in Pakistan. However, what I have achieved is because of help of my family who always supported me and encouraged me. With the help of Sports Ministry I think I would have been able to achieve so much more and would now be playing in top 10 or top 5 in the world.

PakPassion.Net: You had your family to support you in your profession. What difficulties do women of Pakistan have playing at the highest level?

Carla Khan: I felt it is much easier now for women to play as they have all the training and financial support to help them reach the top. For myself I broke the barrier and I was the pioneer, the first Pakistani woman to reach the highest level in sports.

I think for me it was showing them, that if I can do it so can they.

Now they also have more support, they also have financial support. This will enable them to be good players.

PakPassion.Net: Are you invlvoed in any development program in Pakistan especially your fathers region?

Carla Khan: No, I am not involved at this present moment but I desperately want to help. I am looking for right organization to get involved in especially in my father’s region. I haven’t forgnotte my people, the Pathan, who are suffering in Peshawar at the moment.

PakPassion.Net: Had you chosen to represent Great Britian. How different things would have been for you? Would you have had the same exposure?

Carla Khan: I think things would have been a little bit different for me if I had represented Great Britain. They would have been different because I think I would have been able to play longer. The reason being that playing for Britain I would have been financially supported so I would have been able to get regular treatment, physio, better coaches and better training. Basically I had to do this myself because I never had any financial support and never had a coach. In that sense things would have been different financially and I would have been able to play longer.

But on the other hand I am really am happy with my decision to represent Pakistan because I have gotten so much exposure, so much support, so much encouragement and have so much love for Pakistan and Pakistani people. It really made me different from many kids that are half and half.

You know I am half English and half Pakistan but I am really in touch with my Pakistani group. The reason is because I have spent so much time in Pakistan training and it’s my home and I think it is a fanastic place. I also gave Pakistan exposure all over the world which they never had for women sports before. Now I feel that due to traveling and representing Pakistan, people have better understanding of sportsman in our country. So I am definitely happy with the choice I have made to represent Pakistan.

PakPassion.Net: What is the future of Khan Squashing? Should we look for some more champions? Is there any upcoming player(s)?

Carla Khan: Unfortunately I have no other Khan Squash players upcoming or playing. I haven't gone to Pakistan for years now so I am unaware of young generation players from Peshawar. But I do hope future Pakistani players once again will be recognized as the best squash players in the world

PakPassion.Net: Have you given up playing squash professionally?

Carla Khan: Well yes now I have decided that I have given up squash professionally. I no longer compete but I am still involved with squash. I do coaching, I play exhibition matches and am just involved with the sports in general. I try to promote it in anyway I can. But to me personally I will no longer compete in any tournament competing worldwide. I had now been playing for over 15 years and now its time to move onto something else or next chapter of my life.  

PakPassion.Net: What are your future plans?

Carla Khan: I would love a future in media either TV or radio. I want to develop and be more involved with women's organisations in Pakistan by being their voice.

PakPassion.Net: We thank you for your time and wish you all the best

Carla Khan:  Thank you.