Khan wins national title, promotes local pickleball
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ELKINS -- Longtime local physician Farukh Khan recently earned a distinction that not many people can lay claim to after shining at the United States Senior Games in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Khan, who owns and operates his own medical facility on Pleasant Avenue, captured a Gold Medal in pickleball at the games, which ran July 7-18, which gave him the honor of being billed as a national champion.
"It's very exciting and was an unbelievable experience," Khan said of winning the gold. "I used to win at the state competitions, but never won gold even at those events. So to win the gold at the nationals was a thrilling feeling. I was really shocked. I found it hard to believe."
Khan, who competed in the over-70 age group, knocked off eight state champions over an eight-day span to win the title. What makes his victory even more impressive is that he only started playing pickleball four years ago.
"I have played tennis since I was in high school, but I just recently started playing pickleball" Khan told The Inter-Mountain this week. "Pickleball is like mini-tennis, though, it's just played with a shorter racquet that is called a paddle. The ball is also much lighter and it's much easier on the body because the court is smaller. There's not as much of an area to cover, which makes it easier on the joints, too."
With the victory at nationals, Khan has earned the right to compete in pickleball at the Huntsman World Senior Games, to be held in Utah in October.
"The World Games includes the United States, Canada, South America, the West Indies, and some European people," Khan said. "It's open to the entire world to participate.
"There will be some very good competition, so my goal is to finish in the Top 10. My goal at the nationals was to finish in the Top 7, but I surprised myself and won. So we will see what happens."
Khan said that even though the game of pickleball has been around since 1965, not many people in the area know much about the sport. He and a group of friends -- known as "the five guys" -- have been doing their part in the area to promote the sport.
The group, which includes Mark Rosencrance, Mason Schoonover, Tim Gibson, Dave Baird and Renaud Staubert, has been creating pickleball courts all across town, including at the Elkins City Park, the Davis & Elkins College tennis courts and at the Seventh Day Adventist School. There are also two courts at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA.
"Pickleball is America's most popular racquet sport," Khan said. "Tennis courts are being converted into pickleball courts all over. Each tennis court can be converted into two to four pickleball courts. It can also be played indoors and outdoors."
Khan, who is 72 years old, said anyone is welcome to join his group if they are looking to learn how to play pickleball.
"We are willing to teach people to play pickleball if they are willing to join us," he said. "So if anyone sees us out playing at one of the outdoor courts or at the YMCA, come up and talk to us and we will show you how to play. People don't even have to own a paddle, we will have an extra one for them."
Being a doctor, Khan likes to find different ways to promote healthy activities for people, especially older adults.
"I do these competitions to hopefully inspire other people to get healthy by being active," Khan said. "People that play pickleball or any sport in general, they will improve their health.
"Pickleball is a much easier game to learn and to keep playing. It does not have as many injuries that happen in similar sports such as tennis and racquetball, so it's a safer game for older people, especially."
For information on the Huntsman World Senior Games and its list of events, visit seniorgames.net.