After a two-year return, the British Junior Open returned and kicked off in style with a spectacular global junior tournament in Birmingham, which many could describe as the start of Squash’s Commonwealth Games legacy in the great city.
British Junior Open 2023 (credit: England Squash)
Just like previous tournaments, this year’s tournament also featured 23 matches across the four of the finest venues across Birmingham and Solihull – the University of Birmingham Sports & Fitness Club, Edgbaston Priory Club, West Warwickshire Sports Club, and Solihull Arden Club.
2023 British Junior Open Winners
With over 600 matches played across different tournament divisions over 5 days:
- Boys U11, Boys U13, Boys U15, Boys U17, Boys U19,
- Girls U11, Girls U13, Girls U15, Girls U17, Girls U19
Each participant knows their success will lead them to become the next global star in the sport.
What made the 2023 British Junior Open tournament so significant, were the participants from different parts of the squash global community – some of whom were playing in the UK for the first time and others who were returning to play in a new grade.
The most talked about stories from the tournament will go down in history and inspire the next generation of squash players.
USA juniors progress into quarter-finals and claim two titles
With Squash going through a major revival in the USA, it looks like the progress is starting to pay off; as Team USA has made history with fifteen of their player making the British Junior Open quarter-final, topping a previous best of nine in 2019–after two days of competition.
Team USA had fifty of their junior players reach quarter-finals in all ten divisions of the tournament, this was another first for Team USA and also produced a number of major upsets in the first four rounds.
One of the highlights from the tournament was one of their young stars in the BU17 division, Alexander Dartnell, who entered the competition unseeded and produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, by beating out the No.2 seed in the round of 32, and then backed up his winning performance the sixteen round of the category.
Overall, Team USA came away with two titles both in the Boys U13 and Girls U17 divisions – this an excellent accomplishment for US Squash, there is no doubt they will come back stronger and more determined for more titles in 2024, but in the meantime, one can expect to see Team USA winning more title in other junior tournaments this year.
India’s rising star wins second title
One of the most talked about stars of the 2022 Commonwealth Games was Anahat Singh, who became India’s youngest athlete to compete in the competition.
At the 2023 British Junior Open, on the last day, she won the girl’s under-15 title at the prestigious British Junior Open, against Sohaila Hazem of Egypt 3-1 in the final. On her way to the finals, Anahat beat Harleen Tan of Malaysia 3-0 In the quarter-finals, then defeated Malak Samir of Egypt 3-0 in the semi-finals.
This was her third final at the British Junior Open and a major accomplishment, having previously won the under-11 title in 2019 and finished runner-up the year after in the girls’ under-13 category.
Following this success, Anahat will now be preparing for the Asian Junior team championships, to be held in Chennai in February.
One to watch
If there’s one junior Squash player from the British Junior Open to watch it is – Asia Harris.
Despite not reaching the final four, she has the makings of becoming a major Squash star.
Playing out the same Squash club as Finnlay Withington; Asia is being mentored by England Squash legend and former World no.1, Nick Matthews; already has a major title to her name – the Women’s L’International des Mirabelles 2022, Squash Le Reve, Nancy, France.
We reckon, she is a future Squash champion and will become the most talked about Squash star ever; why you may ask? She has a determination that going to make herself a major star of the sport and a role model for young people.
All-England Final
In an exciting turn of events, there was an all-England final with two England rising stars – Finnlay Withington won the British Junior Open 2023 U19 after a thrilling match against England team-mate Jonah Bryant.
Winning the tournament, now brings Finnlay’s junior career full circle having won both junior titles in British Junior Open and British Junior National tournaments, also he becomes the second Squash player from Manchester to win the British Junior Open title.
Final Thoughts
Winners and Medallists British Junior Open 2023 (credit: British Junior Open)
Having seen the British Junior Open return back after two years, it is evident the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games already starting to take effect with the successes of the talented players who won medals across the divisions.
With the winners, each one who goes to one to have a brilliant career in the sport as their successes will set them up for future success as a senior player, should they make the move into becoming a full-time Squash professional and aspire to reach the heights of the greats of the sport.
All the credit to the organisers of the British Junior Open as the tournament produced some great matches that young people of all backgrounds can look to for inspiration in order to take up Squash and even continue to participate in the sport.
To sum up, the British Junior Open always sets up how each junior nation is going to do for the year ahead – we reckon England and Egypt will be competing for honours, but Team USA could cause a major upset and you can rule out neither India nor Pakistan – who players have done well at the 2023 British Junior Open.
Let’s hope in 2024, brings other nations such as Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados to compete and showcase the sport even more to younger people to take part.
