BJO 2024 COUNTDOWN : #6, Champions in Birmingham

As the 2024 edition of the world’s most iconic junior tournament approaches, we’ll count down the days with features and memories …

#6 : Champions in Birmingham

2024 will mark the fifth time the BJO has been held in Birmingham (after 18 years in Sheffield), with forty titles won in the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 events.

But which country has won the most ? No surprises that Egypt are top of the pile with 22 Gold medals. with Malaysia second on 7, hosts England on 5, then USA, India and Pakistan on 3, 2 and 1.

It it goes to seeding this year then Egypt will add another 6 titles, but that’s just on paper …

#5 : Serial BJO Winners

Many players have illustrious junior careers, and many of those go on to senior glory too. When the records are in, the number of BJO titles won is going to be right up there in the list of achievements.

Assuming you get two shots at each age category, the current maximum titles is Ten, but with the U11 category being fairly new, Eight is the most anyone is likely to be able to win.

Let’s have a look at those who came closest to a full house …

Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egy) : 7 titles
U14 1998, U15 1999 & 2000, U19 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004

Raneem El Weleily (Egy) : 6 titles (9 finals)
U13 2001, U15 2002 & 2003, U17 2004 & 2005, U19 2007

Ahmed Faizy (Egy) : 6 titles
U14 1992 & 1993, U16 1994 & 1995, U19 1996 & 1997

Lucy Soutter (Eng) : 6 titles
U16 1980, 1981, 1982 & 1983, U19 1983 & 1984

Nicol David (Mas) : 5 titles
U14 1996 & 1997, U16 1998, U17 1999, U19 2000

Nour El Sherbini (Egy) : 5 titles
U13 2007 & 2008, U15 2009, U19 2020 & 2012

Nour El Tayeb (Egy) : 5 titles
U13 2005, U15 2008, U17 2009 & 2010, U19 2011

Del Harris (Eng) : 5 titles
U16 1984, U19 1985, 1986, 1987 & 1988

Simon Parke (Eng) : 5 titles
U14 1986, U17 1987 & 1988, U19 1989 & 1991

Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egy) : 5 titles
U15 2006, U17 2007, U19 2008, 2009 & 2010

Yathreb Adel (Egy) : 5 titles
U13 2009, U15 2010, U17 2012 & 2013, U19 2014

Habiba Mohamed (Egy) : 5 titles
U13 2011 & 2012, U15 2013, U17 2014 & 2015

Hania El Hammamy (Egy) : 5 titles
U13 2013, U15 2015, U17 2016, U19 2017 & 2019

Four Titles :
Ramy Ashour (Egy), Ahmed Barada (Egy), Sam Todd (Eng), Sabine Schoene (Ger), Amina Orfi (Egy), Heba El Torky (Egy)

#4 : Where are they now

Over recent years many BJO titles have been won by players who are now at the very top of the senior rankings … but do you know how many BJO titles have been won by the current top five men and women ?

The answer ? 22 !

Ali Farag : B19 2011
Diego Elias : B17 2013, B19 2015
Paul Coll : no finals
Mostafa Asal : B17 2018, B19 2019
Mohamed ElShorbagy : B19 2010/09/08, B17 2007, B15 2006

Nour El Sherbini : G19 2012/10, G15 2009, G13 2008/07
Nouran Gohar : G19 2016/15, G15 2012
Hania El Hammamy : G19 2019/17, G15 2015, G13 2013
Nele Gilis : no finals
Amanda Sobhy : 2 finals G19/G17 2011/10 (lost both to Tayeb)

#3 : The 2023 G11 Final

[1] Talia Sherif (Egy) 3-2 Lilly Mashaal (Egy) 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2 (30m)

Finals Day traditionally starts with the youngest events, and for the last four editions that’s been the Girls’ U11 final.

Previous winners had been Amina Orfi (Egy), Anahat Singh (Ind) who are both now household names, Harleen Tan (Mas) and last year Talia Sherif (Egy) in a really entertaining all-Egyptian final – a great way to start finals day !

#2 : The Longest Finals

There may have been longer, but from the BJO finals where the duration was recorded, two stand at the top of the list – both all-Egyptian, both U19, one Boys’ and one Girls’.

2013 B19:
Fares Dessouki (Egy) 3-2 Mazen Hesham (Egy) 12-14, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6 (82m)

2015 G19:
Nouran Gohar (Egy) 3-2 Mariam Metwally (Egy) 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (82m)

FINALS DAY 2015 FINALS DAY 2013

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#1 : Returning Medalists

There have been some serial BJO winners over the years, and 2024 sees the return of eleven medalists from last year who are seeded in the top eight of their events this time around …