Azam Khan, Pakistan Squash Legend, Dies At Age 95 Due To Coronavirus

Pakistani squash great Azam Khan has died of coronavirus in London, his family said. Azam, who won the British Open title successively between 1959 and 1961, had tasted positive for COVID-19 last week and died at London's Ealing Hospital on Saturday. He was 95. Younger brother of the legendary Hashim Khan, Azam is widely regarded as one the best squash players in the world. He left playing due to an Achilles tendon injury and the tragic death of his 14-year old son in 1962. Even though he recovered from his injury two years later, Azam said he could not get over the death of his son.

Born at Nawakille, a small village outside Peshawar, which is known for producing squash world champions like brothers Jahangir and Jansher Khan. Azam had settled in the UK in 1956. He had also won the most important hardball tournament, the US Open, for the first time in 1962 before injury struck him and his son died.

More Sports Personalities Affected

Former Turkish national team and ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Rustu Recber is in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, his wife said. Recber took on hero status in Turkey as he kept goal at the 2002 World Cup, anchoring his team to the semi-finals and ultimately third place, their greatest ever performance in the tournament. The powerfully built and poney-tailed goalkeeper was easily recognisable at the World Cup due to the black, anti-reflection product he smeared beneath his eyes like some NFL players.

Rustu Recber took on hero status in Turkey as he kept goal at the 2002 World Cup, anchoring his team to the semi-finals. (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Rustu is in hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis," Isil Recber said on Instagram late Saturday. "We are in a state of shock after the symptoms developed rapidly while everything was normal. These are critical times and it's very difficult." She added that she, as well as their son and daughter, had tested negative for the virus.

Also Read | Heather Knight, England Captain, Joins NHS As Volunteer To Tackle Coronavirus Pandemic In UK

The goalkeeper, now 46, enjoyed a brief spell at Barcelona in 2003 after starring in the World Cup a year earlier when Turkey beat co-hosts South Korea 3-2 in the third-place play-off. He also played for Istanbul giants Fenerbahce and Besiktas in football-mad Turkey before retiring in 2012. Last week, Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim said he also tested positive for the virus. Turkey has officially recorded 7,402 cases of the new coronavirus while 108 people have died, according to the health minister Saturday.

RELATED