Egypt swept the board for the first time across all 10 age categories at the British Junior Open on Sunday.
Mohamed Zakaria and Fayrouz Aboelkheir lifted the Under-19 titles at the University of Birmingham to complete history from U11 to U19. Egypt had previously hogged all eight titles in 2010, before the advent of the U11 age category.
Six of the deciders were all-Egyptian affairs. Aboelkheir, who was runner up at last year’s event to Amina Orfi, went one better this time with a 3-0 victory over second seed Caroline Fouts, of the USA.
“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 Zakaria capitalised 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 I am player right now so thanks to him. I’m very proud of how this week has turned out.”
💬 "I'm just speechless right now"
Egypt's Fayrouz Aboelkheir reacts to winning the prestigious GU19 British Junior Open title 🇪🇬 🏆#BJO2024 pic.twitter.com/y9GKrpFfho
— British Junior Open (@BJOsquash) January 7, 2024
Defending Boys U17 champion Youssef Salem of Egypt 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 took the first 11-9. Salem, who had to come from behind to win the crown in 2023, levelled 11-7 and took the third and fourth games 11-8, 11-9 to keep hold of the U17 title.
Egypt’s second 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.
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 it was Elhammamy who 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.
Final Results
Boys Under-19 : [1] Mohamed Zakaria (Egy) 3-1 [2] Jonah Bryant (Eng) 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (77m)
Girls Under-19 : [1] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egy) 3-0 [2] Caroline Fouts (USA) 11-8, 11-3, 12-10 (39m)
Boys Under-17 : [1] Youssef Salem (Egy) 3-1 [2] Marwan Asal (Egy) 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (59m)
Girls Under-17 : [2] Nadien Elhammamy (Egy) 3-2 [1] Anahat Singh (Ind) 7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 (68m)
Boys Under-15 : [1] Philopater Saleh (Egy) 3-1 [9/16] Abdullah Ali (Kuw) 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5 (39m)
Girls Under-15 : [1] Malika El Karasky (Egy) 3-1 [5/8] Rama El Naggar (Egy) 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5 (39m)
Boys Under-13 : [1] Malek Helmy (Egy) 3-2 [2] Omar Mohamed (Egy) 13-15, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10 (62m)
Girls Under-13 : [2] Layan Moustafa (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Reem Elmaghraby (Egy) 11-4, 11-8, 11-9 (21m)
Boys Under-11 : [5/8] Adam Ragab (Egy) 3-0 [3/4] Yahia Waleed Rayan (Egy) 11-5, 11-9, 11-1 (27m)
Girls Under-11 : [3/4] Serein Mohamed (Egy) 3-1 [3/4] Fayrouz Elsayad (Egy) 11-6, 4-11, 11-3, 11-8 (24m)