AJC Finalists Decided as Day 3 Wraps Up

Nine top seeded players have clinched a Final’s berth at Ballarat Squash & Racquetball Fitness Centre at the end of day’s play on Tuesday afternoon.

The 2025 Australian Junior Championship Finals will commence from 9:00AM AEST on Wednesday with all tournament deciders streamed live from Court 1 on SquashAUS.TV.

Under 19
Defending Champion [1] Sarbani Maitra (QLD) is in the hunt for consecutive national titles after putting in an emphatic performance in her Semi-Final tie. Maitra racing through to secure a 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-6) win against [3/4] Isla Harris (WA). She will join fellow Australian representative [2] Hannah Slyth (WA), the Western Australian finishing her match inside 25 minutes with a 3-0 victory against [3/4] Katlyn Hall (SA) 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-2).

The top 2 seeds will also battle it out in the Final in the U19 Boys competition. [1] Jackson Wylie (NSW), who is yet to drop a game all tournament, has shown why he is the No. 1 seed in the boy’s draw. Putting on another dominant display for a second day running to defeat [3/4] Haider Naqvi (VIC) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-7). Marcus Wang overcame a tricky start to secure the remaining final’s spot, defeating [3/4] Joshua Rahul Raj (QLD) 3-1 (11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2).

Under 17
Victoria’s [1] Tina Ma has come back from 0-2 down to clinch a spot in the U17 Girls Final after finishing her match against Emilia Scott (NSW) 3-2 (9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7). Ma dug deep in the third game to get herself on the board before firing through to close out the match.

“At two games down honestly I was pretty nervous. But I managed to keep calm and I just trusted my training, my process and I knew I was going to get it back.”

Ma continued to praise Emilia after several close encounters in previous matches.

“We've always had tough battles and it's gone either way. She played so well but I've managed to figure out her game and play my own and not get messed around by her tempo,” added Ma.

“I'm so happy that I made it through to the finals and I'm looking forward to playing my best tomorrow.”

She will tackle Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW), who advanced to the big dance with a strong 3-1 (11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9) win against Lilly Wilson (QLD). A repeat of last year’s U17s Girls Finals, Poulava would continue her stronghold between the two competitors for a second year running.

Kasper Cheung will get a chance to go back-to-back in the U17 Boys Competition claiming a 3-1 (11-4, 11-9, 11-3) win over [5/8] Joel Roshan Raj (QLD). 

“I think I've played some really solid squash over the past two days. I've had a rest day in the first, so I think that helped me a lot,” said Cheung.

Cheung will face [3/4] Henry Kross (NSW) in an all-NSW U17 Boys Final it what is expected to be a tight contest.

“It will be solid physically. I think Henry is a very solid player. He takes the game up a notch when he plays me. So I think I'll just give him my best game and I'll see how he goes,” added Cheung.

Kross booking his spot in the Final with a comprehensive 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-7) defeat of [17/32] Ethan Middleton (NSW)

Under 15
U15 Girls Top Seed Olivia van Zon (SA) will come up against Cleo Poulava (NSW) in the Final after both navigated their way through matches that went the distance.

Van Zon proved too strong in her fixture against Riyo Kawabata (QLD) winning 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5). Whilst Poulava kept a steady head on her shoulders to defeat Vera Bruce (WA) 3-2 (12-10, 13-11, 9-11, 9-11, 13-11).

Meanwhile in the U15 Boys, top seed [1] Max Jones (NSW) kept a clean score sheet to prevail over [5/8] Elijah Rolls (VIC) 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-3). He will face [3/4] Kanishk Doddam Reddy (SA) in the Final on Wednesday. Reddy got the better of No.2 seed Domenic Christou (WA) in an enthralling affair that went the distance 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9).

Under 13
[3/4] Elizabeth Wang (NSW) will play in the final after defeating top seed Annette So Chow (NSW) 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-9) in the U13 Girls draw. Wang will face Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC) in the Final after she overcame No.2 seed Abbey Boswell (QLD) 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7).

[1] Benjamin Boardman (NSW) was yet to drop a game all tournament and continued this feat in a 3-0 (11-5, 14-12, 11-8) win over [3/4] Kai Dumbleton. He will do battle with No. 2 seed [2] Aleister Loo (VIC) who trumphed in his Semi-Final 3-0 (13-11, 12-10, 11-6) against [5/8] Jay Porwal (VIC).

Under 11
The top 2 seeds [1] Hannah Leung (QLD) and [2] Ruisha Chu (NSW) will face off in the U11 Girls Final.  Leung downed [3/4] Kaira Malhotra (NSW) 12-10, 11-7, 11-5), whilst Chu gained her Final's place with a resounding 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-0) win over [3/4] Miranda Clarke.

Just like the U11 Girls, the boy's title will also be decided by the top 2 seeds who've yet to drop a game inside 3 days. [1] Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) proved too strong for [3/4] Owen Boardman (NSW) with a commanding 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-2) victory. He will face [2] Nathan Lin (NSW) in the Final, after he took out [3/4] Joshua Gailer Castellanos (QLD) 3-0 (11-2, 11-3, 11-2).

For the full draw and results from the opening day of the 2025 Australian Junior Championships in Ballarat, click here.

Day 4 action continues at the Ballarat Squash & Racquetball Fitness Centre on Wednesday, October 1 with live streaming from 9:00AM AEST on SquashAUS.tv.

2025 Australian Junior Championships
Ballarat Squash & Racquetball Fitness Centre
Wednesday, 1 October - Finals

Under 11 Girls
9:00AM AEST Court 1 - [1] Hannah Leung (QLD) v [2] Ruisha Chu (NSW)

Under 11 Boys
9:30AM AEST Court 1 - [1] Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) v [2] Nathan Lin (NSW)

Under 13 Girls
10:00AM AEST Court 1 - [3/4] Elizabeth Wang (NSW) v [3/4] Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC)

Under 13 Boys
10:30AM AEST Court 1 - [1] Benjamin Boardman (NSW) v [2] Aleister Loo (VIC)

Under 15 Girls
11:00AM AEST Court 1 - [1] Olivia van Zon (SA) v [5/8] Cleo Poulava (NSW)

Under 15 Boys
11:30PM AEST Court 1 - [1] Max Jones (NSW) v [3/4] Kanishk Doddam Reddy (SA)

Under 17 Girls
12:00PM AEST Court 1 - [1] Tina Ma (VIC) v [2] Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW)

Under 17 Boys
12:30PM AEST Court 1 - [1] Kasper Cheung (NSW) v [3/4] Henry Kross (NSW)

Under 19 Girls
1:00PM AEST Court 1 - [1] Sarbani Maitra (QLD) v [2] Hannah Slyth (WA)

Under 19 Boys
1:30PM AEST Court 1 - [1] Jackson Wylie (NSW) v [2] Marcus Wang (NSW)