Geoff Hunt

Geoffrey Brian Hunt, AM, MBE (born 11 March 1947), is a retired Australian squash player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players in history.

For the ice hockey player, see Jeff Hunt. For the marine artist, see Geoff Hunt (marine artist). For the golfer, see Geoffrey Hunt.

Geoff Hunt
Full nameGeoffrey Brian Hunt
Country Australia
ResidenceCanberra
Born (1947-03-11) 11 March 1947
Melbourne
PlaysRight Handed
Men's Singles
Highest ranking1 (February 1976)
World OpenW (1976, 1977, 1979, 1980)
Medal record
Men's squash
Representing  Australia
World Championships
1976 London Singles
1977 Adelaide Singles
1979 Toronto Singles
1980 Adelaide Singles
1981 Toronto Singles
Last updated on: 20 December 2011.

He was ranked the World No.1 squash player from 1975 to 1980. He won the World Open title four times. He was the event's inaugural champion, winning the competition on the first four occasions it was held (1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980). He also won the International Amateur Individual Championship three times (1967, 1969, and 1971), and the British Open (which was considered to be the effective world championship event involving both amateurs and professionals before the World Open began) eight times between 1969 and 1981. Hunt won 178 of the 215 tournaments he contested during his career.

Hunt was born in Melbourne and now resides in Queensland. [1] He won the Australian Junior Championship in 1963, and he first won the Australian Amateur Men's Championship in 1965.

Hunt was known for having great determination. He ultimately suffered back problems, which curtailed his career.

After retiring as a player, Hunt served as the Head Squash Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1985–2003, where he helped develop a new generation of Australian squash stars. He then worked for 8 years at the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar. Following his retirement and move back to Australia, he has continued to coach Qatari professional player Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi.

In the 1972 New Years Honours Hunt was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[2] He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1982 Australia Day Honours[3] and received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.[4]

Hunt has been inducted into the World Squash Federation Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

World Open final appearances
Wins (4)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1976Mohibullah Khan7–9, 9–4, 8–10, 9–2, 9–2
1977Qamar Zaman9–5, 10–9, 0–9, 9–4
1979Qamar Zaman9–2, 9–3, 9–2
1980Qamar Zaman9–0, 9–3, 9–3
Runners-up (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1981Jahangir Khan7–9, 9–1, 9–2, 9–2

British Open final appearances
Wins (8)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1969Cam Nancarrow9–5, 9–4, 9–0
1974Mo Yasinwalkover (injury)
1976Mohibullah Khan7–9, 9–4, 8–10, 9–2, 9–2
1977Cam Nancarrow9–4, 9–4, 8–10, 9–4
1978Qamar Zaman7–9, 9–1, 9–1, 9–2
1979Qamar Zaman2–9, 9–7, 9–0, 6–9, 9–3
1980Qamar Zaman9–3, 9–2, 1–9, 9–1
1981Jahangir Khan9–2, 9–7, 5–9, 9–7
Runners-up (2)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1970Jonah Barrington9–7, 3–9, 9–4, 9–4
1972Jonah Barrington0–9, 9–7, 10–8, 6–9, 9–7

Books

Geoff Hunt on Squash (London: Cassell) 1977.

References
  1. "Geoff Hunt on Jahangir Khan, squash in the 70s, Egypt and coaching in Qatar". Sportageous. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. "Geoffrey Brian Hunt". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  3. "Geoffrey Brian Hunt, MBE". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. "Geoffrey Brian Hunt, AM, MBE". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Qamar Zaman		 World No. 1
February 1976 – December 1980		 Succeeded by
Qamar Zaman
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