For every young Squash player, having the opportunity to take part in US Junior Open is a lifetime opportunity not to pass up. However, for home talent, it is a tournament that can open many doors in the Squash scene.
Towards the end of December, Squash fans across America turn their attention USA premiere junior tournament, plus watch young players from overseas too.
Just like the British Junior Open held in January, the US equivalent attracts players from afar such as Barbados, Japan, and Pakistan, to compete with their US peers in one of the largest junior Squash tournaments sanctioned by the PSA.
The triple crown of Junior Squash tournaments
The US Junior Open is the third largest individual junior Squash tournament, with the World Junior Championships, as managed by the World Squash Federation and British Junior Open leading the way in prestige.
Like its UK event cousin, the tournament is divided into ten categories — Boys Under-19, Boys Under-17, Boys Under-15, Boys Under-13, Boys Under-11, Girls Under-19, Girls Under-17, Girls Under-15, Girls Under-13, and Girls Under-11.
Due to the popularity of the tournament, the organisers host the event across a number of venues; mainly Ivy League university with a strong Squash following, thus participation by a junior players can improve their chances of going to one of the universities that attract scholarships.
Old scores to settle between bilateral neighbours
Like the CASA tournament in the West Indies, US Open is always a strong media focus when the US takes Canada, just Ford v Holden in Australia touring cars you can tell which superpower is going bragging if one loses.
It is hard to imagine the pressure, if you are a US-born young Squash player with Canadian blood, who do represent? The Stars & Banners or the Maple Leaf….either way it makes a great final for the media to write about, especially if it’s a USA v Canada final.
Egypt young men lead, US young women most successful
In terms of which nation is leading the way in the medals table or in titles; oddly enough the US young ladies lead old foe Canada with Egypt third in the medals of the 3 times the number of championship titles. In comparison to the men’s competition, Egypt leads the way, with Mexico and the USA, respectively second and third.
In terms of Europe’s success at the US Open Squash, well Great Britain has not done too badly with individual boys and girls titles; up-and-coming star Sam Todd won his maiden Men’s US Junior U17 Open title (3rd in total), which he adds to his British Junior Open U15 2018 title.
Meanwhile, Spain took its first US Junior Open Squash title with Ona Biasco in 2017, the same year when Meagan Best of Barbados won her first international title in the U17 category.
Great tournament with expected growth
With the increasing popularity of Squash in America, it is expected that the tournament will continue to grow following a record number of over 900 players participants from over 20 countries took part in the 2014 tournament.
Personally, it would be good to see the likes of Jamaica enter the 2019 US Open Junior and show talent to the rest of the world, plus gain bragging recognition over Barbados which has the best junior Squash teams in the Caribbean.
Overall, the US Junior Open is a great international tournament for junior Squash players to highlight their playing ability.
Click here to watch content from the 2018 US Junior Open Squash via the US Squash YouTube Channel.
