PHOTO ALBUM    EGYPTIAN MATCHES

DAY FIVE – FINALS

Zakaria and Aboelkheir lead Egypt to British Junior Open clean sweep

GU11
Final: [3/4] Serein Mohamed 3-1 [3/4] Fayrouz Elsayad   11-6, 4-11, 11-3, 11-8 (24m)
3/4: Kaylee Li [1] (Usa) 3-1 Ayla Alaa [5/8] 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3

BU11
Final: [5/8] Adam Ragab 3-0 [3/4] Yahia Waleed Rayan 11-5, 11-9, 11-1 (27m)
3-4: Tameem Mostafa Fahmy [5/8] 3-1 Ali Elmaotasem [9/16] 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4

GU13
Final: [2] Layan Moustafa 3-0 [3/4] Reem Elmaghraby  11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (21m)
3/4: Vivienne Sze [1] (Mas) Joudy Yousry [5/8] 11-5,11-7, 10-12, 11-6

BU13
Final: [1] Malek Helmy 3-2 [2] Omar Mohamed  13-15, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10 (62m)
3/4: [3/4]Hassan Abdelgalil3-0 [3/4]Baraa Abdelkarim 11-8, 12-10, 11-6  

GU15
Final: [1] Malika El Karasky 3-1 [5/8] Rama El Naggar  11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5 (39m)
3/4:Harleein Tan [2] (Mas) 3-0 Zeina Abdelaal [5/8] 11-9, 11-5, 11-4

BU15
Final: [1] Philopater Saleh3-1 [9/16] Abdullah Ali (Kuw) 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 (39m)
3/4: Aryaveer Dewan [5/8] (Ind) 3-0 Farouk Mohamed [5/8] 11-7, 12-10, 11-6

GU17 
[2] Nadien Elhammamy3-2 [1] Anahat Singh (Ind)  7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 (68m)
3/4 [3/4] Lauren Baltayan (Fra) 3-2 [5/8] Ruqayya Salem   10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11

BU17
Final: [1] Youssef Salem  3-1 [2] Marwan Asal   9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (59m)
3/4: [9/16] Adam Hawal 3-1 [17/32] Ahmed Abd Elreheem11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5

GU19 
Final: [1] Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-0 [2] Caroline Fouts (Usa)  11-8, 11-3, 12-10 (39m)
3/4: [3/4] Nour Khagafy 3-1  [3/4] Janna Galal  11-2, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7
BU19 
[1] Mohamed Zakaria 3-1 [2] Jonah Bryant (Eng) 11-9, 11-9, 9/11, 11-7 (77m)

Egypt swept the board on finals day at the British Junior Open, with Mohamed Zakaria and Fayrouz Aboelkheir lifting the Under-19s titles at the University of Birmingham. All ten champions across the five age groups were Egyptian, with six of the deciders being all-Egyptian affairs.

Aboelkheir, who was runner-up at 2023’s event to Amina Orfi, went one better this year following her 3-0 victory over the second seed Caroline Fouts of the USA.

The Egyptian cruised in a two-game lead, but Fouts mounted a comeback in a crucial third game. However, Aboelkheir kept her cool and extinguished Fouts’ hopes of a fightback to clinch the third 12-10 to seal the match.

“I feel overwhelmed!” Aboelkheir said. “I’m speechless. Winning the British Junior Open – the most prestigious tournament for juniors – and the oldest one more than the World Juniors. I’m really happy to win the Under-19s and put my name on that trophy.”

Zakaria completed a remarkable day for the Egyptians in the last final of the day after seeing off last year’s runner up, England’s second seed Jonah Bryant 3-1. Despite an early lead for the Englishman, Zakaria came out on top to draw first blood before capitalising on some costly errors from Bryant in the second to double his match lead.

Bryant landed the perfect response as he clawed a game back to halve the deficit in a tense third game, but Zakaria kept his composure in the fourth to clinch the crown.

“This is my sixth time here and I’ve lost five times before, so I came here to show the world how I am right now,” Zakaria said. “I was ready for this event – unlike the last five years I came here and I was ready, and I knew I was the best here.

All of that was thanks to my coach back in Egypt Ahmed Shohayb – he’s the one that needs to take all the credit here. “He’s making me into the player I am right now so thanks to him. I’m very proud of how this week has turned out.”

Defending Boys U17 champion Youssef Salem retained his crown after overcoming his compatriot and last year’s U15 winner, second-seeded Marwan Asal.

Asal, who hadn’t dropped a game coming into the decider, looked to continue that streak when he drew first blood to take the first 11-9. Salem, who had to come from behind to win the crown in 2023, equalised with an 11-7 success in the second before holding off Asal to take the third and fourth games 11-8, 11-9 to keep hold of the U17 title.

Egypt’s No.2 seed, Nadien Elhammamy, came out on top in an entertaining battle with top seed Anahat Singh of India to be crowned the Girls U17 champion, her second five setter in a row after coming back from 2/0 down against French Lauren Baltayan in the semis.

Singh took the opening game but Elhammamy fought back to claim the second and third games on tiebreaks. Singh levelled to force a decider, and nothing much separated the pair in the fifth, but Elhammamy claimed the title in a tense finish.

The Egyptian top seeds in the Girls and Boys U15 deciders both prevailed 3-1 as Malika El Karasky beat her compatriot and 5/8 seed Rama El Naggar 3-1 and Philopater Saleh beat Abullah Ali, the first Kuwaiti player ever to reach a BJO final, also in four games.

All four U13 and U11 finals were all-Egyptian affairs.

Boys U13 top seed Malek Helmy produced a sensational fightback from two match balls down to notch a 3-2 win over second seed Omar Mohamed. The Girls final saw second seed Layan Moustafa defeat 3/4 seed Reem Elmaghraby in straight games.

In the Boys U11 final 5/8 seed Adam Ragab dispatched 3/4 seed Yahia Waleed Rayan in straight games, while the Girls U11 final was between both 3/4 seeds with Serein Mohamed defeating Fayrouz Elsayad 3-1 to lift the crown.

DAY FOUR – SEMIS

G11 [3/4] Fayrouz Elsayad 3-0 [1] Kaylee Li (Usa)   11-9, 11-8, 11-6
G11 [3/4] Serein Mohamed 3-0 [5/8] Alya Alaa  11-7, 11-3, 11-2
B11  [3/4] Yahia Waleed Rayan 3-1 [5/8] Tameem Fahmy  11-5, 12-10, 10-12, 11-3
B11  [5/8] Adam Ragab 3-2 [9/16] Ali Elmaotasem  11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 10-12, 11-8

G13 [3/4] Reem Elmaghraby 3-1 [1] Vivienne Sze (Usa) 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7
G13 [2] Layan Moustafa 3-0 [5/8] Joudy Yousry  11-3, 11-8, 11-3
B13 [1] Malek Helmy 3-0 [3/4] Baraa Abdelkarim   11-3, 11-6, 11-4
B13 [2] Omar Mohamed  3-1 [3/4] Hassan Abdelgalil 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6

G15 [1] Malika El Karasky 3-0 [5/8] Zeina Abdelaal  11-5, 11-6, 11-9
G15 [5/8] Rama El Naggar  3-1 [2] Harleein Tan (Mas)   11-7, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7
B15 [1] Philopater Saleh (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Aryaveer Dewan (Ind)  11-6, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6
B15 [9/16] Abdullah Ali (Kuw) 3-1 [5/8] Farouk Mohamed   11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8

G17 [1] Anahat Singh (Ind) 3-0 [3/4] Barb Sameh   11-7, 11-9, 12-10
G17 [2] Nadien Elhammamy 3-2 [3/4] Lauren Baltayan (Fra)  5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9
B17  [1] Youssef Salem 3-1 [9/16] Adam Hawal  11-8, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
B17  [2] Marwan Asal 3-0 [17/32] Ahmed Abd Elreheem   12-10, 11-9, 11-5

G19  [1] Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-0 [3/4] Janna Galal  11-7, 11-7, 11-6
G19  [2] Caroline Fouts (Usa) 3-0 [3/4] Nour Khagafy 11-5, 11-9, 11-3
B19   [1] Mohamed Zakaria 3-0 [3/4] Melvil Scianimanico (Fra)   11-4, 11-4, 11-3

Runners up in the U19s finals last year, Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Jonah Bryant will be hoping to go one better in 2024 after they both prevailed in the last four.

Aboelkheir, who lost out to her Egyptian compatriot Amina Orfi last year, produced a clinical display against Janna Galal. The top seed will battle it out with second seed Caroline Fouts of the USA after she also notched a 3-0 win against Egypt’s 3/4 seed Nour Khagafy.

Meanwhile in the Girls’ U17s, No.2 seed Naiden Elhammamy of Egypt produced a stunning comeback to advance to tomorrow’s final.

Elhammamy was two games down against France’s 3/4 seed Lauren Baltayan but delivered the perfect riposte to level the match before edging a close, entertaining battle in the fifth, where both players traded points throughout. However, it was Elhammamy who was able to give herself match ball, which she converted at the first attempt.

The Boys’ U17s decider will also be an all-Egyptian affair after Youssef Salem [1] and Marwan Asal [2] got the better of their compatriots Adam Hawal [9/16] and Ahmed Abd Elreheem [17/32], respectively.

In the Girls U15s, Egyptian 5/8 seed Rama El Naggar downed Malaysia’s second seed Harleein Tan 3-1. Standing in El Naggar’s way of a British Junior Open title is fellow countrywoman and top seed Malika El Karasky, who triumphed 3-0 over 5/8 seed Zeina Abdelaal.

Elsewhere, Egypt’s Reem Elmaghraby [3/4] delivered a huge shock as she defeated Vivienne Sze [1] of the United States 3-1 to earn her place in the Girls’ U13s final against fellow Egyptian Layan Moustafa [2].

The Boys U13s final will pit the top two Egyptian seeds against each other after Malek Helmy [1] and Omar Mohamed [2] downed their compatriots Baraa Abdelkarim [3/4] and Hassan Abdelgalil [3/4].

DAY THREE – QUARTERS

BU11
[5/8] Tameem Mostafa Fahmy 3-1 [1] Muhd Harmas Raja (Pak) 3-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
[3/4] Yahia Waleed Rayan 3-0 [5/8] Cameron Stait (Usa) 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
[9/16] Ali Elmaotasem 3-1 [3/4] Lars Daly (Usa) 11-6, 13-11, 3-11, 11-5
Adam Ragab 3-0 [2] Hisshan Nair Tan (Mas)  12-10, 11-8, 11-7

GU11
[1] Kaylee Li (Usa) 3-2 [5/8] Lama Salama 11-8, 3-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8
[3/4] Fayrouz Elsayad3-0 [9/16] Nadine Sadek 11-8, 12-10, 11-8
[3/4] Serein Mohamed 3-0 [9/16] Laila Mohamed Mohsen 11-4, 11-2, 11-8
[5/8] Alya Alaa 3-0 [2] Megha Ravichandaran (Usa)  11-8, 11-6, 11-8

BU13
[1] Malek Helmy3-0 Muhammad Sohail Adnan (Pak) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
[3/4] Baraa Abdelkarim 3-0 [5/8] Reed Goulding (Usa) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2
[3/4] Hassan Abdelgalil 3-2 [5/8] Hufaiza Shahid (Pak) 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9
[2] Omar Mohamed 3-2 [5/8] Aly Taleb 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7

GU13
Reem Elmaghraby [3/4] 3-1 [17/32] Haneen Sameh AbdElRahman   8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6
[5/8] Joudy Yousry 3-1 Areej Elhadidy 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7
[2] Layan Moustafa 3-1 [5/8] Almeera Khan (Usa) 8-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-1

BU15
[1] Philopater Saleh 3-0 George Griffiths (Eng)  12-10, 11-5, 11-5
Abdullah Ali (Kuw) 3-1 [3/4] Hamza El Shorbagi 11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8
[5/8] Farouk Mohamed  3-2 Seif Belal El Shal 11-8, 9-11, 11-1, 7-11, 11-8

GU15
[1] Malika El Karasky  3-1 [5/8] Charlotte Sze (Usa) 11-6, 11-2, 11-13, 11-7
[5/8] Zeina Abdelaal3-1 [9/16] Isabella Tang (Usa) 11-9, 13-11, 11-13, 12-10
[5/8] Rama El Naggar3-1 [3/4] Reghan McLaughlin (Usa) 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4

BU17
[1] Youssef Salem 3-1 Amir Khaled (Fra) 11-7, 11-1, 7-11, 11-6
[9/16] Adam Hawal3-2 [3/4] Abdullah Nawaz (Pak) 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4
Ahmed Abd Elreheem  3-1 [3/4] Seifeldin Refaay 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9
[2] Marwan Asal  3-0 [9/16] Jack Elriani (Usa) 11-7, 11-6, 11-3

GU17
[1] Anahat Singh (Ind) 3-2 [5/8] Ruqayya Salem  9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8
Barb Sameh[3/4] 3-0 Doyce Lee Ye San [9/16] (Mas)  11-6, 11-6, 11-9
[3/4] Lauren Baltayan (Fra) 3-2 [9/16] Sohayla Hazem Farouk 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9
Nadien Elhammamy[2] 3-1 Ena Kwong [5/8] (Hkg) 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9

BU19
[1] Mohamed Zakaria 3-0 Zane Patel [9/16] (Usa)  11-5, 11-4, 11-2
[3/4] David Bernet (Sui) 3-1 [9/16] Yahya Abouraya 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8

GU19
[1] Fayrouz Abouelkheir3-0 Sehveetrraa Kumar [5/8] (Mas) 11-7, 11-3, 11-3
[3/4] Janna Galal3-1 [5/8] Riya Navani (Usa) 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6
[3/4] Nour Khagafy 3-1 [5/8] Malak Abdelhafez 11-4, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5
[2] Caroline Fouts (Usa) 3-0 [5/8] Noor Megahed 11-5, 11-9, 11-3

Twenty nine Egyptians book semi final spots at British Junior Open

Under-19s top seeds Mohamed Zakaria and Fayrouz Aboelkheir spearheaded their country’s charge as 29 Egyptian players booked their places in the last four of the British Junior Open across the five different age groups.

It was a fruitful quarter-finals day in Birmingham for Egyptian juniors as Zakaria and Aboelkheir comfortably secured semi-final berths after dispatching 9/16 seed Zane Patel of United States and Malaysia’s Sehveetrraa Kumar [5/8] in straight games, respectively.

The second seeds in the Girls and the Boys competitions followed suit from the number one seeds in notching 3-0 victories to advance to the last four. USA’s Caroline Fouts thwarted an Egyptian clean sweep with a wub over Noor Megahed [5/8] of Egypt

Anahat Singh, India’s top seed in the Girls’ U17s, came through a stern test against Egypt’s Ruqayya Salem [5/8] to advance to the last four. After sharing the first four games, Singh clinched the fifth 11-8 to earn her place in the semi finals.
The rest of the Girls’ U17s went to seedings, with Singh taking on Egypt’s 3/4 seed Barb Sameh tomorrow following her 3-0 success over Doyce Lee Ye San [9/16] of Malaysia.

It was an Egyptian clean sweep in the Boys’ U17s, with 17/32 seed Ahmed Abd Elreheem springing a surprise result as he knocked out his compatriot – and the 3/4 seed – Seifeldin Refaay.

Fellow countrymen and the top two seeds Youssef Salem and Marwan Asal, who lifted the U15 title in 2023, downed Amir Khaled from France 3-1 and USA’s 9/16 seed Jack Elriani 3-0, respectively.

In the Girls’ U15s 5/8 seed Rama El Naggar dumped the 3/4 seed Reghan McLaughlin of the USA out with a 3-1 success.

The Egyptians swept the board in the Boys’ U13s, with the four quarter-final ties going to seedings. No.1 seed Malek Helmy downed Muhammad Sohail Adnann [17/32] from Pakistan in straight games, while the second seed Omar Mohamed overturned a 2-1 deficit to edge fellow countryman Aly Taleb [5/8] 3-2.

In the Girls U13s, Seif Belal El Shal [17/32] just missed out on a semi final berth in the Boys’ U15s as he went down 3-2 to his compatriot and the 5/8 seed Farouk Mohamed.

There were some big upsets in the Boys’ and Girls’ U11s, with the top two seeds knocked out in the former and the second seed beaten in the latter.
The 5/8 seed Tameem Mostafa Fahmy came from a game down to defeat top seed Muhd Harmas Raja from Pakistan 3-1. Adam Ragab [5/8] ousted Malaysia’s second seed, Hisshan Nair Tan, in straight games to secure his spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the 3/4 seed Lars Daly of the USA was knocked out by Ali Elmaotasem [9/16] after going down to a 3-1 defeat.

In the Girls’ competition, the sole shock result saw the USA’s second seed Megha Ravichandaran go down 3-0 to [5/8] Alya Alaa. 

DAY TWO

Seif Belal El Shal gate crashes Quarter Finals

17/32 seed Seif Belal El Shal scored the biggest upset of day two of the British Junior Open in Birmingham after downing the Boys’ U15 second seed Jayden Oon of Malaysia 3-0 before seeing off India’s Subhash Choudhary [17/32] to secure a quarter final spot.

El Shal claimed the first 11-7 against the Malaysian before a monumental second game between the pair followed, which the Egyptian won 24-22. The victory was sealed with an 11-7 success in the third, before the Egyptian saw off Choudhary 3-1 in the evening to clinch his place in the last eight.

In the Boys’ U19, top seeds Mohamed Zakaria of Egypt and England’s Jonah Bryant won 3-0, 3-0 and 3-2, 3-0 against Austria’s 17/32 seed Daniel Lutz and Abdallah Eissa [9/16] of England, and Egypt’s Youssef Asheba [33/64] and USA’s Alexander Dartnell [9/16], respectively. Meanwhile the top four seeds in the Girls’ U19s advanced to the last eight.

In the Girls’ U17 competition, the second seed Nadien Elhammamy overturned a 2-1 deficit against USA’s Whitney Wilson [9/16] to join the rest of the top eight seeds in the quarter finals.

Having taken the first game 11-9, Elhammamy then fell behind to the American after Wilson edged a tiebreak in the second game 12-10 to level the match before nudging ahead by winning the third. However Elhammamy rallied with 11-6 and 11-9 victories in the fourth and fifth games to prevail in a 66-minute battle.

The top four seeds in the Boys’ U17 booked their spots in the last eight, all chalking up 3-0 wins in the two matches each of them played.

BU11

Tameem Mostafa Fahmy3-0 Jacob Askey [17/32] (Eng) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (16m)
Yahia Waleed Rayan 3-0 Mior El-Fayedh Mior Ahmad Nazril (Mas) 11-1, 11-2, 11-5 (16m)
Ali Elmaotasem 3-2 Anderson Morgan (Usa) 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4 (29m)
Adam Ragab 3-0 Ben Lamond (Eng) 11-3, 11-2, 11-1 (16m)
Hisshan Nair Tan (Mas) 3-2 Hassan Khater 11-9 8-11 7-11 12-10 13-11 42m

GU11

Lama Salama [5/8] 3-0 Delilah Grace Pease [17/32] (BVI) 11-2, 11-2, 11-0 (10m)
Nadine Sadek [9/16] 3-0 Abbey Boswell [17/32] (Aus) 11-3, 11-0, 11-0 (10m)
Fayrouz Elsayad [3/4] 3-0 Francesca Sutton [17/32] (Eng) 11-1, 11-3, 11-0 (9m)
Serein Mohamed [3/4] 3-0 Kyra Wang [17/32] (Usa) 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 (13m)
Laila Mohamed Mohsen [9/16] 3-0 Emily Estermann [17/32] 11-0, 11-1, 11-3 (8m)
Ayla Alaa [5/8] 3-0 Freya Hennings [17/32] (Eng) 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 (13m)

BU13

[1]Malek Helmy 3-0 Henry Urbanek [17/32] (Usa)  11-5, 11-2, 11-5 (20m)
Baraa Abdelkarim 3-1 Armann Merzha Ashraff [9/16] (Mal) 11-8, 11-7, 13-15, 11-5 (37m)
Hassan Abdelgalil [3/4] 3-0 Shreyansh Jha [9/16] (Ind) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 19m
Aly Teleb [5/8] 3-0 Ong Hung Yu [9/16] (Mas)  11-4 11-3 11-5 (15m)
Omar Mohamed [2] v Kevin Wu [9/16] (Usa) 11-6, 13-11, 11-2 (24m)

GU13

Areej Elhadidy [17/32] 3-0 Ziyuan Yin [17/32] (Chi)  11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (15m)
Haneen Sameh AbdElRahman [17/32] 3-0 Ching Sum Tang (Chi)  12-10, 11-5, 11-6 20m
Reem Elmaghraby [3/4]  3-0 Emily Senior [9/16] 11-3, 11-4, 11-0 (12m)
Vivienne Sze (Usa) 3-1 Sandy Hassan 11-4, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8 (32m)
Ethar Elhadidy 3-1 Niea Chew (Mas)  12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10 36m
Joudy Yousry 3-0 Phoebe Griffiths (Eng)  11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (17m)
Layan Moustafa 3-0 Esther Chak [17/32] (Eng)  11-6, 11-7, 11-5 (20m)

BU15

Last 16
Philopater Saleh 3-0 Murdo Mackenzie (Sco) 11-3, 11-9, 11-2
Hamza El Shorbagi 3-0 Mohamed Abaza (Eng) 11-7; 11-9; 13-11
Farouk Mohamed 3-0 Ali Khalil (Eng) 11-5, 11-2, 11-9
Seif Belal El Shal3-0 Abdulrahman Alkandari [33/64] 11-6, 11-6, 11-4

GU15

[1] Malika El Karaksy 3-0 Ameerah Ismail [9/16] (Eng)  11-4, 11-2, 11-4
 Harleein Tan [2] (Mas) 3-0 [9/16] Mariam El Mattet  11-9, 11-7, 13-11
Charlotte Sze [5/8] (Usa) 3-0 Nadia Tamer [9/16]   11-6, 11-3, 11-6
Zeina Abdelaal [5/8] 3-0 Akaisha Bhatia [17/32] (Usa)  11-5, 11-3, 11-6
Rama El Naggar [5/8] 3-0 Harriet Broadbridge [9/16] (Eng)  11-3, 11-8, 11-6

BU17

Last 16
Seifeldin Refaay 3-0 Hart Robertson (Usa) 11-3, 13-11, 11-8 (45m)
Ahmed Abd Elreheem 3-0 Will Newman (Usa) 11-2, 11-5, 11-8 (31m)
Youssef Salem 3-0 Martin Stepan (Cze) 11-3, 11-4, 11-9 (30m)
[1] Marwan Asal 3-0 Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz (Mas) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (25m)
Adam Hawal 3-0 Nickhileswar Moganasundharam (Mas) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (34m)
Abdullah Nawaz (Pak) 3-0 Hassan El Menshawy 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (36m)

Third Round
Seifeldin Refaay 3-0 Rohan Paliwal (Can) 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 (41m)
Ahmed Abd Elreheem 3-0 Aly Ezzat [33/64] (Dom) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 26m
Youssef Salem 3-0 Kreethi Pillay (Mas)  11-6, 11-6, 11-5 (22m)
[1] Marwan Asal 3-0 Sebastian Hylland (Nor)  11-6, 11-5, 11-6 24m
Adam Hawal 3-0 Oliver Velasco (Usa)  12-10, 11-5 11-7 (40m)
Hassan El Menshawy3-1 Ismail Khalil (Eng) 9-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8 (44m)

GU17

Ruqayya Salem [5/8] 3-0 Alexandra Jaffe [9/16] (Usa)  11-8, 11-1, 11-4 21m
Barb Sameh [3/4] 3-0 Eliza Schuster [9/16] (Usa) 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 (24m)
Lauren Baltayan [3/4] (Fra) 3-0 Jomana Shehab [9/16]   11-3, 11-8, 11-7 (25m)
Sohayla Hazem Farouk [9/16] 3-0 Dixon Hill [5/8] (Usa)  11-4, 11-7, 12-10 (29m)
Nadien Elhammamy [2] 3-2 Whitney Wilson [9/16] (Mal)  11-9, 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 (66m)

BU19

Last 16

[1] Mohamed Zakaria 3-0 Abdallah Eissa [9/16] (Eng) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3
Melvil Scianimanico [3/4] (Fra) 3-0 Yassin Shohdy [9/16]   11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Yahya Abouraya [9/16] 3-1 Juan Jose Torres Lara [5/8] (Col) 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6
Hollis Robertson [5/8] 3? Marwan Tamer Abdelsalam [9/16]

Round Three

[1] Mohamed Zakaria 3-0 Daniel Lutz [17/32] (Aut) 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Yassin Shohdy [9/16] 3-1 Bailey Malik [17/32] (Eng)  11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 11-5
Yahya Abouraya[9/16] 3-0 Antonin Romieu [17/32] (Fra)  11-6, 11-6, 12-10
Marwan Tamer Abdelsalam [9/16] 3-0 Drew Glaser [17/32] (Usa) 9-11, 12-10, 11-3 11-4
Jonah Bryant [2] (Eng) 3-2 Youssef Asheba [33/64] 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-2

GU19

[1] Fayrouz Abouelkheir 3-0 Savannah Ingledew [9/16] (Rsa) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6
Nour Khafagy [3/4] 3? Akari Midorikawa [9/16] (Jap)
Malak Abdelhafez [5/8] 3-1 Caroline Eielson [9/16] (Usa)
Noor Megahed [5/8] 3-1 Spring Ma [9/16] (Can)  11-8, 11-9, 11-6

The 2024 British Junior Open began in earnest today, with 482 matches across four venues on an action-packed opening day in Birmingham.

It was a perfect start to the tournament for the top two seeds in the Girls and Boys’ Under-19s competitions. Number one seed Mohamed Zakaria saw off Arihant K S [33/64] of India 3-0, with two rounds Thursday to determine the quarter-finalists.

World No.37 and the top seed in the girls’ U19s, Fayrouz Aboelkheir – who was also runner-up in the final in 2023 – opened her account at this year’s event by beating Olivia Owens [17/32] of England 3-0 and now move into the last 16 with quarter-final places at stake on Day Two.

The top two seeds in the Girls and Boys Under-17s followed suit by kicking off their tournament campaigns with 3-0 victories to book their places in the next round.

Egyptian pair Youssef Salem [1] – the defending U17 champion – and Marwan Asal [2], who scooped the U15 title last year, defeated England’s Wilfred Baker and Viggo Hendricks [33/64], respectively. They also face a further two rounds tomorrow.

The number one seed in the Girls Under-17s Anahat Singh of India, who lifted the U15 title in 2023 and the Scottish U19 title last week, downed Egypt’s Farida Walid Sherif [17/32] in a fiery match which entertained a packed crowd on Edgbaston Priory’s court one, while Nadien Elhammamy [2] of Egypt overcame Austria’s Karina Seiner and Reka Kemecsei in emphatic fashion.

All of the top eight seeded players in the Boys’ Under-13s and Under-11s competitions safely progressed, but three top eight seeds in the Girls’ Under-13s were beaten on the first day. Haneen Sameh Salah Abd El Rahman [17/32] beat the 5/8 seed Yoga Varunayvie Subramaniam 3-0 and Areej Elhadidy [17/32] downed the USA’s 5/8 seed Almeera Khan 3-0.

Day One – Afternoon

BU13

[1]Malek Helmy 3-0 Alexander Koa-Wing [17/32] (Eng)  11-1, 11-0, 11-3
Baraa Abdelkarim 3-0 Euan Thomson [17/32] (Eng) 11-3,11-1, 11-2
Hassan Abdelgalil[3/4] 3-0 Joshua Fillmore [17/32] (Eng) 11-7, 11-3, 11-2
Aly Teleb [5/8] 3-0 Faiz Khan [17/32] (Usa) 11-5, 11-8, 11-9
Omar Mohamed [2] 3-0 Ibrahim Hosny [17/32] 11-6, 11-5, 11-1

GU13

Niea Chew (Mal) 3-0 Lara Naguib  11-8, 11-9, 11-9
Areej Elhadidy[17/32] 3-0 Almeera Khan  11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Haneen Sameh AbdElRahman [17/32] 3-0 Yoga Subramaniam (Mas) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3
Sandy Hassan 3-0 Sophie Harding (Eng) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4
Ethar Elhadidy 3-0 Kathryn Chung [17/32] (Usa) 13-11, 11-3, 11-9
Layan Moustafa 3-0 Rida Ali (Eng) 11-1, 11-1, 11-1

GU15

Mariam El Mattet [9/16] 3-0 Lily Romieu [17/32] (Fra)  11-5, 11-4, 11-2
Malika El Karaksy [1] 3-0 Ella Rl Cao [17/32] (Can)   11-1, 11-4, 11-2
Nadia Tamer [9/16] 3-0 Ava Fox (Eng)  11-5, 11-5, 11-6
Zeina Abdelaal [5/8] 3-0 Elcke Mols [17/32] (Ned) 11-3, 11-5, 11-5
Rama El Naggar [5/8] 3-0 Chelsea Chen [17/32] (Usa)  11-3, 11-2, 11-5

BU15

Philopater Saleh 3-0  Gioele Reniero [33/64] (Ita) 11-1, 11-2, 11-2
Ammar Ibrahim 3-0 Zhiheng Li [33/64] (Sing) 11-5, 11-7, 15-13
Hamza El Shorbagi 3-0 Dominik Forgač [33/64] (Cze) 11-5, 11-5, 11-9
Farouk Mohamed3-0 Luca Mariglia [33/64] 11-2, 11-4, 11-3
Seif Belal El Shal 3-0 Abdulrahman Alkandari [33/64] (Kuw) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4

BU17

Seifeldin Refaay 3-0 Darcy Hayes [33/64] Aus) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Ahmed Abd Elreheem 3-0 Jamie Stait (Eng) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
Youssef Salem 3-0 Wilfred Baker (Eng) 11-1, 11-7, 11-5
Marwan Asal 3-0 Viggo Hendricks [33/64] 11-4, 11-9,11-2
Adam Hawal 3-0 Cheng Ting To Brogan [33/64] (Hkg) 11-3, 11-3, 11-7
Hassan El Menshawy 3-0 Aapo Teitti [33/64] (Fin) 11-7, 11-4, 11-4

GU17

Anahat Singh [1] (Ind) 3-0 Farida Walid Sherif [17/32] 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
Ruqayya Salem[5/8] 3-0 Maja Maziuk [17/32] (Sui) 11-2, 11-4, 11-1
Barb Sameh [3/4] 3-0 Wai Iynn Au Yeong [17/32] 11-1, 11-1, 11-5
Jomana Shehab [9/16] 3-1 Najwa Zara Mohd Fakhrur Razi [17/32] (Mas) 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7
Sohayla Hazem Farouk [9/16] 3-0 Elaine Chung (Hkg) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
Nadien Elhammamy [2] 3-0 Reka Kemecsei [17/32] 11-6, 11-0, 11-3

BU19

[1]Mohamed Zakaria 3-0 Arihant  [33/64] (Ind) 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Yassin Shohdy [9/16] 3-0 Barnabás Sáli [33/64] (Hun) 11-1, 11-5, 11-5
Yahya Abouraya[9/16] 3-0 Jack Mahon (Eng) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
Marwan Tamer Abdelsalam [9/16] 3-0 Connor Hayes [33/64] (Aus) 11-4, 16-14, 11-4
Youssef Asheba [33/64] v Kyle Penman [17/32] 11-2, 11-3, 11-5

GU19

[1] Fayrouz Abouelkheir3-0 Olivia Owens [17/32] (Eng) 11-4, 11-5, 11-4
Riya Navani [5/8] (Usa) 3-0 Shahd Shahen [17/32] 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
Nour Khafagy [3/4] 3-0 Robyn Mcalpine [17/32] (Sco) 11-4, 11-6, 12-10
Malak Abdelhafez [5/8] 3-0 Hermione Cao [17/32] (Can) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Noor Megahed [5/8] 3-0 Pik Ching Cheng [17/32] (Hkg) 11-7, 11-6, 11-1
Thanusaa Uthrian [9/16] (Mas) 3-1 Lojayn Gohary [17/32] 12-10, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7

---

---

Day One – Morning

BU11

Tameem Mostafa Fahmy 3-0 Reuben Price [33/48] (Eng) 11-0, 11-0, 11-2
Yahia Waleed Rayan 3-0 Harry Knox [17/32] (Ire) 11-1, 11-3, 11-1
Ali Elmaotasem 3-0 Abdullah Alali [33/48] (Kuw) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4
Adam Ragab 3-0 Abhyuday Arora [17/32] (Ind) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
Hassan Khater3-0 Arhaan Barboza [17/32] (Usa) 11-6, 12-10, 11-9

BU13

[1]Malek Helmy 3-0 Zane Harms [33/64] (Sui)  11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Baraa Abdelkarim [3/4] 3-0 David Tang [33/64] (Chi)  11-1, 11-3, 11-0
Hassan Abdelgalil [3/4] 3-0 Kyan Khai-Hern Phuah [33/64] (Mas)  11-7, 11-1, 11-7
Aly Teleb [5/8] 3-0 Kylen Calder [33/64] (Eng)  11-3, 11-2, 11-2
Omar Mohamed [2] 3-0 Yianni Theodoropoulos [33/64] (Can) 11-2, 11-5, 11-2

GU13

Lara Naguib3-0 Bella Gokani [17/32] (Eng)  11-5, 11-2, 11-8
Areej Elhadidy [17/32] 3-0 Leeya Patel (Eng)  11-1, 11-0, 11-3
Haneen Sameh Salah Abd El Rahman [17/32] 3-0 Elia Grossi (Fra) 11-8, 11-5, 11-1

BU15

Philopater Saleh 3-0 Gioele Reniero [33/64] (Ita) 11-1, 11-2, 11-2
Nicolás Sardi (Arg) 3-0 Yassin Kouritam   11-8, 11-1, 11-8

GU17

Farida Walid Sherif[17/32] 3-0 Keira Hickox (Can)  11-3, 11-6, 11-5
Ruqayya Salem [5/8] 3-0 Shae Paterson (Eng) 11-1, 11-1, 11-3
Barb Sameh[3/4] 3-0 Elle Golsworthy (Eng) 11-1, 11-3, 11-1
Jomana Shehab [9/16] 3-0 Alyssia Crabbe (Bel)  11-2, 11-4, 11-2
Sohayla Hazem Farouk [9/16] 3-0 Sarbani Maitra (Aus)  11-4, 11-9, 11-5
Nadien Elhammamy[2] 3-0 Karina Seiner (Aut)  11-1, 11-0, 11-1

BU19

Luhann Groenewald [17/32] (Rsa) 3-0 Mostafa Mekki   11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Youssef Asheba [33/64] 3-0 Thomas Greengrass (Eng)  11-4, 11-5, 11-4

GU19

Shahd Shahen [17/32] 3-2 Louisa Kaven (Sco)  11-6, 10-12, 12-14, 11-6, 11-9
Malak Abdelhafez [5/8] 3-0 Amelie Brooke (Eng)  11-3, 11-3, 11-9
Lojayn Gohary [17/32] 3-0 Sophie Hill (Eng)  11-2, 11-1, 11-1

Zakaria and Abouelkheir headline 2024 British Junior Open draws

The draws for the 2024 British Junior Open (BJO) in Birmingham (3-7 January) have been released with Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria and Fayrouz Abouelkheir headlining the Boys and Girls Under 19 categories respectively.

The England Squash platinum event will feature 675 players from 49 nations with players from Egypt, USA, India and Pakistan favourites to lift the coveted titles across ten age categories.

World no. 78 and World Junior silver medallist Mohamed Zakaria is seeded to meet last year’s BU19 runner-up [2] Jonah Bryant of England in what could be a mouth-watering final showdown.

16-year-old Zakaria, who has three recent PSA back-to-back titles, will have to navigate past current World Junior bronze medallist [3/4] Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) in the last four, whilst former champion Bryant could lock horns with current German Open U19 champion [3/4] David Bernet (SUI).

World No.39 and World Junior bronze medalist Fayrouz Abouelkheir is seeded on the same side of the draw as former BJO runner-up [3/4] Janna Galal before facing a potential final showdown with BJO U19 2022 runner-up and US Junior Open GU19 champion [2] Caroline Fouts (USA).

The BU17 draw predicts an all-Egyptian final with two former BJO champions [1] Youssef Salem and [2] Marwan Asal set to square off in what could be a repeat of this week’s US Junior Open BU17 final in which Asal prevailed in three tight games: 11-9, 11-8, 11-9. Lying in wait are 3/4 seeds Seifeldin Refaay and Abdullah Nawaz (PAK).

GU17 top seed Anahat Singh (IND) is predicted to add a third BJO title to her medal haul. Looking to mount an upset is Dutch Junior Open 2022 GU19 champion [2] Nadien Elhammamy who fell to Singh following a five-game last 16 thriller at the 2023 WSF World Junior Championships.

Philopater Saleh is in prime position to capture the BU15 crown and scheduled for a last four encounter with US Junior Open BU15 runner-up [3/4] Brendan Tagliarini (USA) before a potential final clash with Scottish Junior Open BU15 runner-up [2] Jayden Oon (MAS).

GU15 top seed Malika El Karaksy is seeded to meet three-time English National champion [3/4] Mariam Eissa (Eng) ahead of a scheduled showdown with former BJO GU11 champion [2] Harleein Tan (MAS).

The BU13 draw predicts an all-Egyptian final with top seed Malek Helmy set to do battle with [2] Omar Mohamed. Meanwhile, three-time US Junior Open champion Vivienne Sze (USA) is seeded for a GU13 last two clash with [2] Layan Moustafa.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Harmas Ali Raja and US Junior Open 2023 GU11 champion Kaylee Li are favourites to lift the boys and girls under 11 titles, respectively.-