Egyptian Adam Hawal and India’s Anahat Singh are the standout names in the draws as the Alpha Bravo Construction British Junior Open (BJO) celebrates its 100th year on 2 – 6 January 2026 in Birmingham.
In its centenary edition, the prestigious competition will once again take place at the University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness, Edgbaston Priory Club and three other venues in the ‘Second City’, with over 750 of the world’s best young squash players vying for 10 trophies.
Having reached the BU17 final in his two previous BJOs, Hawal begins his first BU19 campaign as top seed and is predicted to face dynamic Frenchman [3/4] Amir Khaled-Jousselin in the semi-finals. Second seed Seifeldin Refaay of Egypt will take on last year’s bronze medallist Christian Capella [3/4] of the USA in the other semi, if results go with the seedings.
Fresh from winning the SADT World Cup in Chennai, Anahat Singh returns to Birmingham as favourite for the GU19 crown, having already won the BJO U11, U15 and U17 titles.
In the semis, the Indian sensation is seeded to meet another prodigy in 14-year-old Malika El Karaksy [3/4] of Egypt, while the other semi might see France’s European champion Lauren Baltayan [2] take on World Junior Championship semi-finalist Sohayla Hazem Farouk [3/4] of Egypt.
Egypt’s Farouk Mohamed tops the bill in the BU17 and is scheduled to meet [3/4] seed Brendan Tagliarini of the USA in the semi-finals. Aryaveer Dewan of India — US Junior Open winner two years ago — is second seed and Philopater Saler [3/4] of Egypt could lie in wait for him in the last four.
GU17 top seed Habiba Rizk of Egypt will be aiming for a third BJO title. She is seeded to face Charlotte Sze [3/4] of the USA in the semi-finals, and may play another American, second seed Isabella Tang, in the final if Tang can navigate past Mariam El Mattet [3/4] of Egypt.
In the BU15, it’s Egypt again who start as favourites with Hassan Abdelgalil named top seed and expected to meet fellow countryman Baraa Abdelkarim [3/4] in the semi-finals. Second seed Aly Abdel-Fattah is seeded to come up against his Egyptian compatriot Omar Mohamed [5/8] in the quarter finals.
Another Egyptian, Layan Moustafa (BJO U13 champion two years ago), tops the seedings in the GU15 draw, with Malak Mahmoud [3/4] potentially in store in the last four. Second seed Vivienne Sze of USA is predicted to face Reem Elmaghraby [3/4] of Egypt in the other semi.
The top four seeds in the BU13 all hail from Egypt. No.1 seed Yahia Waleed Rayan could face [3/4] Tameem Mostafa Fahmy [3/4] in the semis, with Adam Ragab [2] slated to meet Hussain Ghoneim [3/4].
Egypt are also favourites to dominate the GU13 podium, with Serein Mohamed and Nabila Elnahas the top two seeds. In the draw, they face potential semi-final matchups with [3/4] seeds Kaylee Li of USA and Fayrouz Elsayad of Egypt respectively.
It’s the American Azlan Khan who tops the seedings in the BU11 and he is expected to have a trio of Egyptians for company in the latter stages. Seif Elsayaed may lie in wait in the semis and the winner of Hazem Mahmoud El Fadly [2] v Adel Mohamed Gaber [3/4] could provide the other finalist. For the girls, another Egyptian, Talia Eslam may face her sternest challenge on her route to the final with a potential semi-final clash against American Elizabeth Kung [3/4]. But Eugenie Cao [5/8] of Canada and Eslam’s compatriot Malike Ghonim [5/8] may have something to say about that, as they could be possible opponents for the top seed in the earlier quarters.
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.
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