Squash is a game that developed as a tournament sport in this century and which has achieved considerable popularity in much of the world. That popularity is much greater in certain regions of the world, notably those that are British or that were under British rule earlier in this century. The game has been dominated form the first by several major players and by a number of players from one family, the Khans of Pakistan. Hashim Khan was a major player in the 1950s and helped contribute to the growth of the game and especially to its great popularity in his native Pakistan. Jahangir Khan took his place in the family pantheon beginning in the 1980s, and he has been followed by another in the family, Jansher. Hashim Khan changed the nature of the game of Squash as it had ben played to that time in the British system and in the process began a dynasty that continues to this day. Jahangir came to dominate the game because of his skill and his personality alike, and he remains an important force as a coach and role model who continues to act as a world ambassador for the game, helping to raise interest, increase the number of courts in the world, support the different tournaments, and develop the game around the world. These and other Khans hold a special place as the family whose members have been prominent in the game since tournament play began in the 1920s and who continue to be major players to this day.
The game of squash dates from 1830, though it followed along history of human beings playing different games in which players would hit a ball with either a closed fist as in "fives" or "bunch of fingers" or with some form of bat or racket. Around 1148, the French played "le Paume," meaning "the palm of the hand," a game which developed into Jeu de Paume, Real Tennis, Royal Tennis, or simply Tennis. At some time in the early 19th century, this obsession with rackets and balls spawned another variety of the sport in ...