Solihull squash star wins silver as Egypt dominate the finals

The prestigious platinum competition brought 777 entries from all over the world to England's Second City and Monday's 10 finals featured some absolutely epic duels - not least the climatic match of the evening in which Egypt's 5/8 seed Eiad Daoud won a thrilling, five-game BU19 final against [9/16] Alexander Dartnell of the USA.

Alexandria-born Daoud had had a brutal five-setter late last night in his semi-final against [5/8] Christian Capella during which he sustained a hamstring injury. He arrived for the final wearing heavy leg strapping and Dartnell began with a clear tactic to test his opponent's fitness and keep the points long. It worked in the first game, but Daoud blasted off seven points in a row to take the second and another flurry of winners saw him clinch a quickfire third.

Dartnell bit back in the fourth, using height and changes of pace brilliantly to draw the scores level at 2/2. But in the decider, Daoud somehow found another gear and played almost faultlessly to go 7-2 up, before Dartnell clawed back to 7-5. At that point, the Egyptian lunged for a forehand and collapsed to the floor wincing in pain. He looked shattered, but once again he somehow rallied, sealing an astounding 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7 win with a forehand drop. A large Egyptian contingent flooded on court to lift the champion aloft.

Daoud said: "In the beginning my hamstring was hurting but after the first game the adrenalin just started pumping. I gave it my all and threw everything I had at that match. This is obviously my best title and I will never forget these last five days in my entire life."

The all-Egyptian GU19 final also went right to the wire, although eventual winner [1] Janna Galal could have made it a much shorter contest. She had two match balls in the third, but [2] Nadien ElHammamy resisted on both occasions. ElHammamy (no relation to world no.3 Hania) then rattled off the last five points in succession in the fourth game to take it to a decider. There was incredible athleticism and front court deception shown by both players throughout, but it was Galal who eventually won it 11-7, 11-5, 11-13, 8-11, 11-6.

Galal said afterwards: "I feel amazing! I can't believe I've finally won it. I've worked really, really hard these last few months and I'm glad that work paid off. Even though I lost those match balls, I was really, really determined to win and I was also able to stay calm."

Having finished BU15 runner-up two years ago, Egypt's 3/4 seed Seifeldin Refaay went one better in the BU17 final by conquering top-seeded compatriot Adam Hawal 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 in an attritional encounter.

India's top seed Anahat Singh won a slightly scrappy GU17 final in five games against Egyptian second seed Malika El Karaksy to claim her third BJO title in what was her fifth final.

Singh, who won the BJO GU11 in 2019 and GU15 in 2023 in Birmingham and also made her senior debut for India in the same venue at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: "I don't think I played my best squash but by the fifth game I was able to understand exactly what I had to do. This year is my advantage year in the U17 age group so it was an important one for me. I love this place and I will be back next year to try to win number four."

Vivaan Mehta became only the second ever American winner of a boys' title at the BJO after a five-game victory over top seed and local boy Ali Khalil, England's only representative on finals day. In an undulating contest, Khalil hit back to lead 2/1 after losing the first game on a tiebreak. But Mehta's intricate, wristy front court play was crucial to him taking the last two games to wrap up a 15-13, 4-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 victory.

The result mirrored the pair's recent semi-final at the US Junior Open in Philadelphia just before Christmas which the California native also won in five. Mehta said: "This is like nothing I've ever done before. Compared to winning something like the US or Dutch Junior Open, this is another feeling. Each year, I feel like the US team is getting better and closer to the Egyptians."

The GU15 final was an all-Egyptian contest in which [2] Habiba Rizk took her second BJO title, having won the GU13 in 2023. She overcame [3/4] Rinad Hytham Elmergawy 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6.

The Pakistan flag was hoisted above the BJO winners' podium for the first time in five years following [3/4] Muhammad Sohail Adnan's epic 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5 win over top seed Moez Tamer Elmoghazy of Egypt in a frenetic BU13 final.

Pakistan team manager Muhammad Mansoor reflected: "Adnan achieved his destiny today. He is completely and utterly determined. He lives away from home and trains in Lahore for two or three hours in the morning and evening, so he is very tough. It is great to break the monopoly of the Egyptians!"

The GU13 finalists, [9/16] Salma Elbaz and qualifier Lily Elsayed, are not only both from Egypt but both attend the same school. It was Elbaz who won the battle of the classmates 11-8, 11-8, 11-9.

BU11 top seed Anas Tawfik took a circuitous route into the final, having come back from 2/0 and 9-2 down in his quarter-final against [9/16] Youssif Abd Elaziz. He was slightly more efficient in Monday's final with [2] Rayan Ghozlan though, taking it 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8. The GU11 final was also all-Egyptian, with [2] Farida Kahim winning 11-7, 13-11, 11-9 against [1] Laila Mohamed Mohsen.

After last year's Egyptian lockout of all 10 titles, this year saw a mere seven trophies head to the land of the Pharaohs - although USA confirmed their growing stature with a best-ever six semi-finalists and one champion, with India and Pakistan winning one apiece.