Squash great Roshan dead

Lahore: One of Pakistan's earliest international squash champions, Roshan Khan, died in Karachi on Friday, his family said.

Khan, 78, won the British Open title in 1957. He was the father of squash great Jahangir Khan, who later won the British Open a record 10 times and 6 World Opens.

"My father died in a hospital last night," Jahangir said yesterday.

Roshan and Jahangir are the only father and son duo to have both won the prestigious British Open title.

Health problems

Roshan died of cardiac arrest after suffering from health problems since last year, Jahangir said.

He had been in a coma for more than one month.

Roshan rose from a ball boy in squash courts and went on to play in the British Open in 1955. He won the title two years later. He also won US Open titles three times.

Along with Hashim Khan, who won seven British Open titles, Roshan was regarded as one of the pioneers of squash in Pakistan who ruled the sport in the 1980s and 1990s through Jahangir and Jansher Khan.

Jahangir had captured a world record 10 British Open titles and six world crowns.

Roshan rose from a ball boy in squash courts and went on to play in the British Open in 1955. He won the title two years later. He also won US Open titles three times.