Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Carla Khan

Carla Khan is from the great line of squash champions, her grandfather being Azam Khan, great uncle Hashim Khan known as the godfather of squash. Her Father is from Nawakille, Peshawar, Pakistan he was a junior world champion and won the prestigious Davis Cup which is equivalent to the British Junior Open.

She started with her brother playing squash at the age of 12, from the very first moment she stepped onto the court she realised that this was what she wanted to do for a long time to come.  Carla Khan reached 20 in the world on the professional women's International circuit, she represented England and was a top junior player having won various junior titles including being European junior number one.  At the age of 19 she changed to represent Pakistan, Carla then made history as she was the first female from the direct line of champions to pursue a career in the game.

In November 2002, at the El Salvador Open, she won her first major title. Her improvements continued in 2003, her most successful season yet and won the Ottawa International Open in Canada. She then broke into the top 30 world rankings and soon became the Pakistani National Number One.  In 2005 Carla beat current World Number One Nicol David from Malaysia in the Irish Open her best achievement yet. She then went on to win the first ever women's international tournament in Pakistan not dropping a single game beating her opponent from Malaysia in straight sets.

Through Carla Khans achievements she gained media coverage around the world and has been recognised as the Squash Queen of Pakistan, her fan base stretches worldwide including ex pats from Pakistan.

After a serious back injury in Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games in 2006 whilst playing for the Pakistan team as the Number One, Carla had to stop playing and was informed that her squash playing days were over. However she returned in 2007 and leaped back into the top world 40's, winning the Iranian Open and the Austrian Open.

Carla made a decision in 2008 to retire even though she was moving back up the ladder to reach her ultimate goal. Carla has not fully left the sport as she trains, continues to play leagues and coaches squash players. She has now had the opportunity to coach in many countries, having been invited to coach the Iranian women's team, Egyptian women's team, Pakistan girls and in 2008-2009 she coached full time in New York, U.S.A. developing the women's squash at a prestigious Country Club.

Carla Khan now retired from the tour but continues to be a role model for women sport players in Pakistan as she made history for sport in the country that opened there arms to her, she is best know as the controversial player and "hardest hitter" who was always aggressive, passionate and determined as life was never easy for Carla, as she was never fully accepted by both English or Pakistani sports institutions but for that reason she strived to do her best.

Carla is now pursuing a career in t.v, radio and writing which has always been her passion, Carla would also love to be a spokeswoman for female players worldwide.

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