Juniors crowned at AJC Individual Finals in Ballarat

Finals across 10 individual junior divisions were decided at the 2025 Australian Junior Championships at Ballarat Squash & Racquetball Fitness Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The finals which were streamed live on SquashAUS TV throughout the day, showcased Australia's top junior talent who were competiting on the highest national stage for their respective age group.

U19 Boys
NSW representative Jackson Wylie proved why he was the top seed in the U19s Boys draw. Yet to drop a game all tournament, fellow NSW rep Marcus Wang came close, before Wylie closed out the first game 12-10.

Despite falling short, Wang continued to pile on the pressure in the second. But Wylie use the occasion to show his experience by holding on to take a 2-0 lead in the decider. 

A proud member of the Elanora Squash Club, Wylie would go on to seal the championship tie to assert his dominance with a 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-2) win in the Final. 

U19 Girls
Queenslander Sarbani Maitra has gone back-to-back to claim the U19 Girls for a second year running. The top seed didn't have it all her way to start the match. Western Australia's Hannah Slyth was zoned in as she took the first game 11-4.

Slyth continued her momentum in the second game with an upset on the cards, but Maitra willed herself back in the contest to steal the game and draw the match.

Maitra flew out of the blocks in the third game to take it out 11-6. Before securing a consecutive title after taking down Slyth in the fourth game with score ending at 3-1 (4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3).

U17 Boys
Kasper Cheung has outlasted Henry Kross in an all-NSW affair in the U17 Boys Final. The top seeded Cheung got off to the perfect start to close out the first game 11-6.

Cheung raced through the second game to take what looked to be an unasailable 2-0 lead. Though Kross had other plans on his mind to pounce in the third game. Consecutive points for Kross giving him all the momentum to take it out 11-9.

With Kross boosting with confidence, the fourth game would prove to be an arm wrestle for both juniors. But it was Cheung who would come out on top to take the win and title 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12).

U17 Girls
Tina Ma (VIC) continued her hot form in the Final with the perfect display in the U17 Girls decider.

Taking on NSW's Eden-Alma Poulava, Ma proved a stretch too far in a dominant performance.

The recent Australian Junior representative completing a remarkable campaign without dropping a game to win the U17 Girls title 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8).

Under 15 Boys
Max Jones (NSW) claimed the U15 Boys title taking down South Australia's Kanishk Doddam Reddy 3-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7).

After dropping the first game,  Jones when on a run in the second game to draw the match.

Jones continued his push towards the title and never looked back to take the third and fourth games to conquer the U15 Boys division. Adding to NSW's count of titles at the 2025 AJC.

Under 15 Girls
Olivia van Zon of South Australia has gone on to win the U15 Girls title with a 3-0 win over Cleo Poulava (NSW) in the Final.

Van Zon was a step ahead to race through the first game 11-1. The South Australian continued to pile on the pressure in the second game despite Poulava fight back early in the second game.

However, Van Zon proved too strong in the end to claim South Australia's first title of the tournament winning 3-0 (11-1, 11-6, 11-4).

Under 13 Boys
Aleister Loo (VIC) completed the clean sweep for Victoria in the U13 Division after victory over top seed Benjamin Boardman (NSW). 

Loo raced out to a 2-0 game lead before Boardman built momentum to take out the third game.

Boardman continued his push to draw the match with scores locked at 8-8 in the fourth game. But it was the Victorian who would push through to match point and deliver Victoria their second title at the 2025 Australian Junior Championships.

Under 13 Girls
Victorian Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC) has claimed the U13 Girls title in a competitive match against Elizabeth Wang (NSW) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 13-11).

Mohan trailed Wang early in the first game before rallying late to steal the early lead.

The Victorian held strong in the second game before clinching the tie in the third 13-11 after Wang forced her hand. Mohan going on to walk away as the U13 Girls champion.

Under 11 Boys
Nathan Lin made it a NSW clean sweep across the U11 Division after defeating No.1 seed Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) in the Final 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-7).

The first game saw four lead changes before Lin was able to hold his nerve and close it out.

Lin ran away with a quick 7-2 lead in the second game which included an audacious behind-the-back shot which excited the crowd on Court 1.

The New South Welshman holding on to shoot out to a 2-0 lead. He would prove strong in the third to clinch the U11 Boys title in a hard fought victory.

Under 11 Girls
Ruisha Chu (NSW) has taken out the 2025 AJC title with a 3-0 win over Queensland’s Hannah Leung.

Chu proved too strong for the top seeded Leung in a tight contest in Ballarat.

After racing through comfortably in the first two games, Leung fought back to draw the match 8-8 in the third.

The second seed Chu responded despite the late fightback to secure the title and claim a hard fought victory 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9).

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Atkins and Jones claim M.C. Hazell Award at 2025 Australian Junior Championships in Ballarat

Tasmania's Jarrod Atkins and Western Australia's Josie Jones have been recognised for their outstanding conduct throughout the tournament displaying their sportsmanship, fairness, player improvement and match results.

The duo were acknowledged in front of a packed out AJC Function on Wednesday evening at the North Ballarat Sports Club.

The national tournament continues in Ballarat for the Team Event, which concludes this Saturday, October 4.

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

Watch all the action from 9:00AM AEST everyday during competition on SquashAUS.tv.

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

Under 11 Girls
[2] Ruisha Chu (NSW) def. [1] Hannah Leung (QLD) 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9)

Under 11 Boys
[2] Nathan Lin (NSW) def. [1] Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-7)

Under 13 Girls
[3/4] Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC) def. [3/4] Elizabeth Wang (NSW) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 13-11)

Under 13 Boys
[2] Aleister Loo (VIC) def. [1] Benjamin Boardman (NSW) 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-8)

Under 15 Girls
[1] Olivia van Zon (SA) def. [5/8] Cleo Poulava (NSW) 3-0 (11-1, 11-6, 11-4)

Under 15 Boys
[1] Max Jones (NSW) def. [3/4] Kanishk Doddam Reddy (SA) 3-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7)

Under 17 Girls
[1] Tina Ma (VIC) def. [2] Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8)

Under 17 Boys
[1] Kasper Cheung (NSW) def. [3/4] Henry Kross (NSW) 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12)

Under 19 Girls
[1] Sarbani Maitra (QLD) def. [2] Hannah Slyth (WA) 3-1 (4-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-3)

Under 19 Boys
[1] Jackson Wylie (NSW) def. [2] Marcus Wang (NSW) 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-2)