Aussies kick off 2024 at British Junior Open

Nineteen talented young Australian players will take on some of the best in the work when the British Junior Open gets underway in Birmingham later tonight.

Outside of the World Junior Championships, the British Junior Open is regarded by most one of the most prestigious under age events across the globe with a history spanning decades.

Australia has had success at the event in the past, with Chris Dittmar winning the Under 19 boys title in 1981 and 1982, while Glen Brumby claimed the crown in 1979. Kasey Brown was Under 17 girls runner up in 2001 before winning the title the following year and claiming Under 19 silver in 2003. Donna Lobban (nee Urquhart) was Under 17 girls runner up in 2003.

Coming into this year’s event, Oceania Junior Championship Under 13 girls runner-up Elizabeth Wang (NSW) has the 5/8 seeding position, the highest of Australian contingent.

Twelve of players competing in Birmingham recently took part in the Scottish Junior Open, with Soha Khatri achieving the best result after finishing fourth in the Under 17 girls event, while Darcy Hayes was sixth in the Under 17 boys.

“This is a really important tournament for many of our up-and-coming players who get a rare opportunity to test themselves against international competition,” said Lachlan Johnston, Squash Australia High Performance Director. “A number of the players who competed at last year’s World Junior Championships in Melbourne were in Birmingham last year and the experience proved beneficial when it came time to pull on the green and gold.”

The players taking part this week are supported by National Coach Stewart Boswell and National Pathways Coach Jenny Duncalf, assisted by Donna Lobban and Vicky Boswell.

“Making high quality international competition more accessible is a key part of our High Performance strategy, and we're fortunate that the Australian Institute of Sport and Commonwealth Games Australia provide generous support to international competition initiatives which allow us to resource the these types of events well and ensure a great experience for the athletes,” said Johnston.

Matches on selected courts are being streamed live via worldsquash.tv.

Click here for full draws and results | Click here for live results from 8pm AEDT

2024 BRITISH JUNIOR OPEN
Birmingham ENG
3-7 January 2024

Girls Under 11
Rd 1 [17/32] Abbey Boswell v [9/16] Nadine Sadek (EGY)

Boys Under 13
Rd 1 [17/32] Thomas Wang v [33/64] Bader Alramzi (KUW)

Girls Under 13
Rd 1 [5/8] Elizabeth Wang v Qualifier

Boys Under 15
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Connor Haberecht v Alam Hong (ENG)
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Marcus Wang v Purav Rambhia (IND)
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] James Boswell v Aedan Matamisa (ENG)
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Ketan Porwal v Joe Thompson (ENG)

Boys Under 17
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Ashank Gupta v Aiden Fillmore (ENG)
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Darcy Hayes v Louis Stephens (WAL)
Qualifying Rd 1 [33/64] Aiden Finlay-Mulligan v Dylan Smithson (ENG)

Girls Under 17
Rd 1 Soha Khatri v [17/32] Millie Breach (WAL)
Rd 1 Joanne Joseph v [17/32] Wai lynn Au Yeong (SIN)
Rd 1 Sarbani Maitra v [9/16] Sohayla Hazem Farouk (EGY)
Rd 1 [17/32] Amelie Guziak v Yu Ying Ng (CAN)

Boys Under 19
Rd 1 Daniel Marsh v [33/64] Devon Li (CAN)
Rd 1 Harry Burgess v [33/64] Roman Bicknell (CAN)
Rd 1 Deeptangsu Maitra v [17/32] Caleb Boy [17/32]
Rd 1 [33/64] Andre Lynn v Jakub Zimecki (POL)
Rd 1 [33/64] Connor Hayes v Ojas Mishra (ENG)