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FINE FORM IN HARTFORD
Sixteen of the world's best squash players met at the Hartford (Conn.) Golf Club last weekend to settle the Open championship of the United States. Of the 16, four were members of Pakistan's formidable Khan family, which has dominated the game for half a dozen years. To no one's surprise the Khans again prevailed. Azam Khan, 34 (left background, with Philadelphian Ben Heckscher), put out the top-seeded American, Diehl Mateer, in the semifinals, while his cousin Roshan, 32, was disposing of Boston's Henri Salaun. Then swarthy Roshan outsteadied Azam in a two-hour final for the championship. Hashim, dean of the clan at 45, had lost to brother Azam in the quarter-finals. Handsome young Mohibullah, taking his first crack at the American-style game (smaller court, less running), lost both his temper and opening-round match to cagey veteran Salaun. Otherwise, the Americans were out-Khaned all the way.
The elder Khans learned squash from British officers in Karachi, today make short work of Britain's best. Warming up for the Khan dynasty are: Hashim's son, a junior champion in England; Azam's son, 9, who "shows real promise."
PHOTO
MARVIN E. NEWMAN
PHOTO
MARVIN E. NEWMAN
SQUASH CHAMPION ROSHAN KHAN BACKHANDS IN THE U.S. OPEN
PHOTO
MARVIN E. NEWMAN
THREE VETERAN KHANS—Roshan, Azam and Hashim—were joined in U.S. Open by 21-year-old Mohibullah (right). Already a professional, he won last Scottish Open. Hartford title went to Roshan, who coaches the Pakistan Navy team.
