The present Doodle celebrates incredible Pakistani squash player Hashim Khan, generally revered as one of the sport’s all-time greatest players.

On this day in 1951, Khan won the British Open Squash Championships impelling him from relative indefinite quality to the status of a global symbol.

Born in 1914, Khan was brought up in Peshawar, a little town in what was then India.

His dad worked at a British officials’ club with squash courts where Khan apprenticed as a ballboy. Learning the ropes of the game while on his off-hours, Khan played barefoot on the club’s unpleasant block courts—an early demonstration of his tenacity. By age 28, Khan turned into a squash ace and before long, a national champion of the sport.

In the wake of winning three All-of-India titles, the recently independent government of Pakistan drafted him to speak to the nation at the 1951 British Open.

Khan commanded during his first appearance at the British Open, thought about squash’s big showdown at that point, and proceeded to bring home the terrific prize.

He came back to Pakistan a national legend with a million people welcoming him upon his appearance. This monumental triumph turned into the primary hurrah of the Khan family’s squash tradition. Throughout the following 46 years, the competition was won 29 times by either Khan or one of his family members, including prestigious players Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan.

Building up a career that earned him a spot in the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame, Khan won seven British Opens, five British Professional Championships, three U.S. Opens, and three Canadian Opens.

Much thanks to you, Hashim Khan, for demonstrating that through difficult work and assurance, individuals from each background can achieve greatness.