Rehmat Khan

Rehmatullah "Rehmat" Khan (sometimes spelled Rahmat Khan or Rhamat Khan) is a squash coach and former squash player from Pakistan. He coached his cousin Jahangir Khan, who is arguably the greatest squash player of all time, throughout his record-breaking career.

Rehmat was among the leading squash players on the international circuit in the late-1970s, reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 12. He was a close friend of Torsam Khan, Jahangir's older brother, who was among the top professional players. In 1979, Rehmat and Torsam, who both saw the potential in young Jahangir, made plans to buy a 50% share in a Sussex squash club and bring Jahangir to England to train. However, just when the deeds were to be signed, Torsam suffered a heart attack during a tournament match in Australia and died suddenly.

At that point, Rehmat made a decision to sacrifice his own playing career to take on the challenge of coaching the enormously promising youngster Jahangir. He commented at the time: "I was No. 12, but because of constant injuries I didn't think I would climb any higher." Jahangir had considered quitting the game in the wake of his older brother's death, but Rehmat helped to convince him that Torsam would have wanted him to continue. Rehmat convinced Jahangir's family to let him come to England to train.

In 1981, the 17 year-old Jahangir became the youngest player to win squash's World Open. This tournament victory marked the start of an unbeaten run by Jahangir which lasted for five years and over 500 matches. Jahangir won a total of six World Open titles and 10 British Open titles during his career.

Rehmat's father Nasrullah Khan was formerly the coach of another dominant squash champion, Jonah Barrington.

Rehmat's daughter is the musician Natasha Khan (better known by the pseudonym "Bat For Lashes").

External links

• The Khan Family, A Squash Dynasty Part III
• The Incredible Khans of Squash Part II
• Pakistan Squash - The Khan Supremacy Part VII