We’re all set for a very special edition of the Alpha Bravo Construction British Junior Open (BJO) on 2-6 January as the legendary tournament celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Over 750 of the world’s best young squash players will flock to Birmingham to compete for one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes.
It was in 1926 at the exclusive Royal Automobile Club on London’s Pall Mall that the modern-day British Junior Open began as an annual tournament for British public schoolboys, then named the Drysdale Cup.
Throughout its 100-year history, the BJO has produced countless champions who’ve gone on to become World no.1s; Nick Matthew, Mostafa Asal, Ramy Ashour, Noran Gohar, Hania El-Hammamy and Raneem El Weleily, just to name a few. This is one of the many reasons people from all over the world descend on Birmingham, with the tournament concreting itself as a key springboard for future world champions.
All 2026 finals will take place on one of the two all-glass courts at the University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness Centre, which was the venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Games will also be played at nearby clubs Edgbaston Priory Club, West Warwickshire, Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield.
Egypt’s Adam Hawal, conqueror of world no.3 Paul Coll on the PSA Tour earlier this season tops the seedings in the BU19 draw. After injuries hampered him in finals on his last two trips to the British Junior Open, the 17-year-old is itching to convert this year.
Hawal’s sternest challenges are likely to come from compatriot Seifeldin Refaay [2], who beat him in last year’s U17 final, and Frenchman Amir Khaled Jousselin [3/4], the European Junior Champion who won three successive PSA titles at the start of this season.
In the GU19 event, Indian sensation Anahat Singh is hunting a fourth BJO title, having reached the final in all five of her campaigns to date.
Singh, who has already won 12 PSA Tour titles at the age of 17, will face strong competition from France’s second seed and European junior champion Lauren Baltayan and two Egyptian 3/4 seeds, Sohayla Hazem Farouk and Malika El Karaksy.
Egyptians dominate the seedings in the younger age categories, with Farouk Mohamed and two-time BJO title winner Habiba Rizk respective favourites in the boys’ and girls’ U17s, and Hassan Abdelgalil and Layan Moustafa in the U15s.
Yahia Waleed Rayan tops the seedings in the BU13 with compatriot Serein Mohamed favourite in the GU13. Talia Eslam is predicted to lift the GU11 trophy but it’s an American, Azlan Khan, who’s no.1 seed in the BU11.
The event begins on Friday 2 January with finals day on Tuesday 6 January.
Watch the 2026 Alpha Bravo Construction British Junior Open live and for free here on the official website. You can also catch the action on SQUASHTV, Worldsquash.tv and esfsquash.tv.
Follow the official BJO socials: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook
