Sports Reporter
PESHAWAR: Some are born into privilege. Others are born into purpose.
I was born into fire—the kind that forges champions.
My name is Shahid Zaman Khan, and my journey began in the heart of Chiltan Market, Quetta, where dreams were bigger than the streets we played on, and the sound of squash balls echoed louder than the noise of the world outside. I didn’t grow up with wealth, but I inherited something far more valuable: a legacy of grit, honor, and relentless belief.
My father, Mr. Gul Bahadur Khan, was not a man of many words but his dedication to squash spoke volumes. He molded champions, mentored hundreds, and lived for the game. He built more than players he built people. My uncle, Qamar Zaman, was a global icon, a symbol of Pakistan’s dominance in squash, and the heartbeat of an era. I didn’t just follow in their footsteps .I walked beside giants.
From the age of six, squash became my world. It wasn’t a choice. It was destiny.
I trained not in air-conditioned courts, but on concrete floors under burning skies. I played with borrowed gear, battled tougher odds, and dreamed louder than the noise of doubt. With each passing year, I rose. Pakistan’s No. 1 ranked player. A World Ranking of #14.
I stood on podiums with gold around my neck Asian Games, SAF Games, and dozens of international tournaments. But medals never defined me mission did.
In 2009, I made a decision that would alter the course of my life: I moved to Boston, USA. I left behind the roar of national crowds to embrace the silent responsibility of mentorship. I wasn’t chasing applause anymore I was chasing impact.
I joined the legendary Tennis and Racquet Club, one of Boston’s oldest squash institutions. Over the next decade, I didn’t just coach I built bridges. Between cultures. Between generations. Between who I was and who I was becoming. Later, as Head Coach at Equinox, I shaped athletes physically, mentally, and spiritually. I also mentored students at Newton Country Day School and Beaver Country Day School, where coaching meant building character as much as skill.
Today, I proudly serve as coach at Harvard Business School, Boston University, and Wellesley College institutions that shape global leaders. From the dusty alleys of Quetta to the marble halls of Harvard, my journey is more than improbable it’s proof that no dream is too distant when purpose is clear.
But I never left Pakistan. Not in my heart. Not in my mission.
I’m now focused on the most meaningful project of my life: establishing the first world-class Squash Academy in Quetta, Balochistan. Not a business. Not a brand. A beacon for every child who feels forgotten, unseen, or unheard. With my brother Zahid Gul, we’ve revived junior squash in the region after decades of silence. We’ve hosted five junior tournaments, donated rackets and gear to children who couldn’t afford shoes, and we’re building what no one thought possible: hope.
And that hope is already bearing fruit.
In 2023, my nephew Hamza Khan became the World Junior Champion. In 2025, his cousin Noor Zaman became the Under-23 World Champion. Both are trained by my brother Zahid in Quetta. These aren’t just victories they’re proof that the Zaman legacy is not only alive it’s evolving.
This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about them the kids training barefoot on broken courts, dreaming with nothing but faith in their hearts.
I am no longer just an athlete. I am a guardian of a tradition, a mentor of champions, and a servant of a cause far bigger than myself.
This is more than squash.
This is redemption.
This is revolution.
This is home.
Shahid Zaman Khan
Former World No. 14 | Pakistan No. 1
Asian & South Asian Gold Medalist
Head Coach – Harvard Business School | Boston University | Wellesley College
Founder – Squash Academy, Quetta
Mentor | Patriot | Guardian of Legacy
