The British Junior Open was celebrating its 100th year this January. Many top world-ranked professional squash players have come through their junior years competing in this prestigious event. As anyone in squash knows, the BJO is the most prestigious junior event outside of the World Junior Open, with the US Junior Open following closely behind. It is always an incredible experience to be at these events and soak in the atmosphere.
There is something incredibly special and exciting about bringing together the best juniors from over 50 countries, across ALL age groups, competing for coveted titles from under 11 through under 19. Earning the opportunity to represent your country remains one of the highest honors in junior sport, especially in the US, where the caliber and depth of players is second only to the Egyptian contingent worldwide. I have wonderful memories of competing in the BJO as a junior, and nothing replaces the exhilaration of competing against international players, checking your draw, and seeing how your skills stack up on the world stage.
In the US, we are fortunate to have an incredibly diverse coaching pool, with coaches relocating from around the world to be part of our vibrant and continuously growing squash community, not just on the East Coast, but across the West and the Midwest as well.
This is my 20th year in the US, and the standard and professionalism of squash have gone from strength to strength in every way, led by US Squash. While there have always been talented players at the top of each age group, the depth across all levels is now truly remarkable and incredibly exciting to see.
For the 2026 British Junior Open, there were fifty-six Team USA juniors and twelve coaches selected through a stringent process. All twelve coaches were international, originating from England, France, Egypt, Pakistan, and Belgium. This diversity provides our juniors with invaluable exposure to different squash cultures and styles, making the US one of the most diverse melting pots of squash knowledge in the world.
While the British Junior Open has a longer history, the US Junior Open has continued to grow in size and strength year after year, attracting top international juniors eager to compete in the United States. US Squash continues to set a high standard for event delivery. This is made possible through an experienced tournament team, outstanding venues, and Club Locker technology, which provides live scoring, instantly updated draws, and streaming across multiple courts, with 39 courts in walking distance of each other.
While tournament organizers around the world work tirelessly to provide the best possible experience, it is no small task to host an event of this magnitude. The British Junior Open did a fantastic job of delivering a memorable centenary event across five venues in the Birmingham area. A huge thank you goes to the organizers, volunteers, officials, and supporters whose dedication made this historic milestone possible.
At its core, junior squash is about so much more than wins and rankings. It is one of the few spaces in a young athlete’s life where they are truly on their own, learning to manage pressure, navigate disappointment, celebrate success with humility, and persevere through adversity. These experiences teach resilience, accountability, respect, and confidence. Life skills that extend far beyond the court.
