As the world’s best young squash players gathered in Birmingham for the 2026 Birmingham Junior Open, sponsored by Alpha Bravo Construction, they did so against the backdrop of a remarkable milestone: 100 years of junior squash history.
From Drysdale Cup to premier junior tournament
What began in 1926 as the Drysdale Cup, contested by British public schoolboys in the exclusive surroundings of the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, has evolved into a truly global festival of junior sport.
A century on, the British Junior Open now welcomes hundreds of boys and girls from around the world, competing across five age groups and reflecting the modern game’s diversity and reach. Fittingly, the centenary finals were staged on the all-glass courts at the University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness Centre – a venue synonymous with elite competition after hosting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – while the early rounds unfolded across renowned local clubs including Edgbaston Priory, West Warwickshire, Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield, linking the tournament’s proud past with its vibrant present.
Top Seeds Fly Through First Round – and Beyond – at a Centenary British Junior Open
The doors opened early on a crisp Friday morning in Birmingham, and by nightfall,l the story of the 2026 Alpha Bravo Construction British Junior Open had already begun to take shape. In its centenary year, the world’s most prestigious junior squash tournament wasted no time reminding everyone why it holds such a revered place in the sport.
More than 750 players from around the globe converged on the University of Birmingham and its surrounding venues – Edgbaston Priory, West Warwickshire, Stourbridge, and Sutton Coldfield – creating a whirlwind of colour, noise, and ambition. From the very first rallies, one theme was clear: the leading seeds had arrived ready.
Calm starts and confident statements
India’s Anahat Singh, already a three-time British Junior Open champion, stepped on court with the quiet assurance of someone chasing history.
Her opening GU19 match was serene and ruthless in equal measure, dispatching Canada’s Wing Kai Gladys Ho with barely a tremor. Across the draw, France’s Lauren Baltayan – the highest-ranked European seed across all age groups – matched that composure, setting her own stall out for a deep run.
In the BU19, Egypt’s Adam Hawal began his long-awaited quest for a first British Junior Open title with authority, cutting through Mexico’s Luis Mendez. Around him, a familiar cast of contenders advanced smoothly, including Egypt’s Seif Refaay, France’s Amir Khaled-Jousselin and American Christian Capella.
A similar story unfolded in the younger age groups. Egypt’s Farouk Mohamed, already a dominant force on the junior circuit, brushed aside his BU17 opener, while GU17 favourite Habiba Rizk barely broke stride on her way into round three. England’s leading hopes also enjoyed a positive start, with Mariam Eissa, Dylan Roberts and a trio of BU17 boys all negotiating the early rounds without alarm.
Day two: pressure rises, stories deepen
By Saturday, the tournament had shifted into high gear. The courts buzzed with tension as quarter-final places came into focus, and while the top seeds largely held firm, not all journeys were straightforward.
Adam Hawal continued his measured progress, setting up a mouth-watering BU19 quarter-final with England’s Dylan Roberts, who had to dig deep after losing the first game in a spirited comeback win. In the GU19, Singh and Baltayan again looked imperious, the latter overcoming a stern test from American starlet Talia Zakaria in a high-quality encounter.
There were moments of drama elsewhere. India’s Aryaveer Dewan survived a major scare in the BU17, clawing his way back from the brink, while local favourite Mariam Eissa thrilled the home crowd by overturning a two-game deficit in the GU17 to reach the last eight.
By the end of the day, Egypt and India were once again heavily represented, but England, France and the USA had all planted flags firmly in the quarter-finals.
Day three: Egypt’s dominance, others refuse to fade
Sunday’s quarter-finals underlined Egypt’s extraordinary depth, particularly in the younger age groups, but the narrative was far from one-sided. In the marquee GU19 draw, Baltayan and Singh stayed on course for a dream final, each overcoming Egyptian opposition with maturity beyond their years.
England’s BU19 challenge came to an end, but not without resistance. At the same time, USA’s Christian Capella booked his place in the semi-finals after a five-game epic that showcased the grit and athleticism that defines American junior squash.
Perhaps the loudest cheers of the day came for Warwickshire’s Mariam Eissa, who produced a sensational performance to topple higher-seeded American Charlotte Sze in the GU17. It was a reminder that, even in a tournament dominated by familiar powerhouses, homegrown stories still matter.
By nightfall, Egypt’s presence was overwhelming: 29 players across the semi-finals, interest in all but one match, and a staggering ten all-Egyptian encounters still to come.
Finals day: history made, traditions upheld
The centenary celebrations reached their crescendo on finals day. Egypt duly claimed nine of the ten titles on offer, but the loudest applause was reserved for the exception.
At her seventh and final attempt, France’s Lauren Baltayan finally lifted the British Junior Open trophy, defeating Anahat Singh in a gripping GU19 final. It was a victory built on relentless retrieval and unshakeable belief – and one that etched her name into British Junior Open history alongside Camille Serme as only the second French female champion.
Elsewhere, the BU19 final delivered on every promise. Close friends Adam Hawal and Seif Refaay produced a classic, with Refaay once again emerging victorious in a tense five-game battle. Across the age groups, familiar Egyptian names lifted trophies, from Farouk Mohamed and Habiba Rizk to Layan Moustafa and Yahia Waleed Rayan, each reinforcing the nation’s extraordinary conveyor belt of talent.
Final Thoughts
As the final balls were struck and the last medals handed out, the 2026 British Junior Open closed as it had begun: with world-class squash, compelling stories, and a sense that the next century of the tournament is in very safe hands.