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In the 1950s, legendary squash player Hashim Khan won seven British Opens and became Pakistan's first national hero. He is still considered the greatest squash player of all time, about whom it was said, "The only way to keep Hashim from getting to the ball was to put it in your pocket." His story is remarkable, not just because of his paramount sports skill but also because, as a complete unknown, he broke into the elite world of squash. Born in a remote village of what became Pakistan, Khan's birthdate is believed to be 1914 but at the time, the village kept no records. When Khan burst on the international squash scene, he was not only an outsider, he was also old for competition. He was 37 when he competed in his first British Open in 1951. In his New Yorker Magazine profile of Khan, writer Herbert Warren Wind wrote, "His legs were short and on the spindly side and, particularly since he was barrel-chested and had the suspicion of a potbelly, he seemed curiously top-heavy. Yet three games in at the 1954 US Open finals, according to Wind, Henri Salaun, a player known for his fitness, could barely drag himself to and through the door leading from the court, whereas Hashim, for all his years [he was almost twice Salauns age] wasnt even breathing hard.
His life and his legacy are detailed in the documentary, "Keep Eye on Ball: The Hashim Khan Story" which is being screened at The Avon Theatre on November 4 at 7:30 p.m. The filmmaker, Josh Easdon, himself a squash professional, also created the documentary, "Dyslexia." He tells Hashim's story, from the bare-footed boy who spent hours practicing to the teacher who created a family dynasty in the sport, against the backdrop of the history of three nations England, India and Pakistan. The film also examines Khan's life as a Muslim in post-9/11 America. Included in the film is rare footage of the Khyber Pass and the remote Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, where Khan was born. After the 7:30 p.m. showing, there is a question and answer period with Josh Easdon and the film's co-producer, Beth Raisin. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit the theatre's website.
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