Australian Juniors ready to take on world’s best at 2026 World Squash Junior Championships

Australia’s next generation of squash talent will take centre stage when the 2026 World Squash Junior Championships get underway in Ontario, Canada from 20-31 July.

Hosted at the White Oaks Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the prestigious tournament will bring together 185 of the world’s best junior athletes aged 18 and under, with players from across the globe competing for individual and team honours.

Australia will be represented by a talented eight-player squad, featuring some of the country’s most promising emerging athletes, including 2026 Australian Junior Open U19 champions Joanne Joseph and Kasper Cheung, and Oceania Junior U19 Girls champion Sarbani Maitra.

The 2026 edition marks the first time Canada has hosted the World Junior Championships since 1984, with athletes set to compete against some of the leading junior players from around the world.

For Australian team member Joanne Joseph, the World Junior Championships represent a special opportunity to compete alongside her teammates and test herself against the world’s best.

“World Juniors has always meant so much to me. This is my third World Juniors, and I’m really looking forward to playing in the team with these girls,” Joseph said.

“World Juniors is the pinnacle of junior squash, and to get to play all these top players from different countries is such a great experience, and it’s just good to see where you end up on the world stage.

“Being my third and final year, I know what to expect now with the level from the other countries. So just working to play my hardest and try and get as far as I can in the draw. I’m looking forward to it.”

Following her recent success as captain of the Australian team at the Trans-Tasman Championships, Joseph said representing Australia on the world stage remains a special honour.

“It means a lot. I’ve been playing for Australia basically my entire junior career, and for this to be one of my last opportunities as a junior to represent Australia means so much,” she said.

“Having come off the Trans-Tasman and getting that win for Australia, I’m really excited to get to do this again in the world at the World Juniors.”

Squash Australia National Pathways Coach Jenny Duncalf will lead the Australian team in Canada, supported by National Coach Stewart Boswell and former World No.5 Kasey Brown, who joins the team in a coaching and mentoring role.

The World Junior Championships will provide another valuable opportunity for Australia’s emerging athletes to gain international experience and compete against the best junior players from around the world.

Find the draw, schedule and live results here. The event will be live streamed here.

Day 1 Schedule

Men's Main Draw

Levi Visser (GER) V Henry Kross (AUS) - 10:40am EDT | 12:40am AEST

[25/32] Shu Takahashi (JPN) V Kasper Cheung (AUS) - 11:20am EDT | 1:20am AEST

Juan Pablo Ramirez (MEX) V Ethan Middleton (AUS) - 11:20am EDT | 1:20am AEST

Pan Hong-Rui (TPE) V Stanley Chung (AUS) - 12:40pm EDT | 2:40am AEST

Women’s Qualifying:

Lilly Wilson (AUS) v Vivienne Van Der Schyff (RSA) - 1:20pm EDT | 3:20am AEST

Women’s Main Draw:

Starla Phillips (RSA) v [25/32] Sarbani Maitra (AUS)  - 2:40pm EDT | 4:40am AEST

Tina Ma (AUS) v [13/16] Diya Yadav (USA) - 3:20pm EDT | 5:20am AEST

Gabriela Valentina Buenrostro Orozco (MEX) v [25/32] Joanne Joseph (AUS) - 3:20pm EDT | 5:20am AEST