2023 Australian Junior Championships Day 2 wrap up
Published Wed 27 Sep 2023
With finals places on the line, it was crunch time for competitors at the Australian Junior Squash championships in Brisbane today.
The Under 19 Girls semi-finals were action-packed with defending champion Madison Lyon (QLD) defeating Hannah Slyth (WA) in just 16 minutes 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-6).
On the court next door Courtney Scholtz (VIC) booked her spot in the final following a lively match against Shona Coxsedge (QLD) which included the equal-longest game of the tournament so far 3-2 (3-11, 11-6, 17-15, 4-11, 13-11).
“A really tough match, I am really happy with the result,” said Scholtz. “My preparation in the lead-up has been difficult. I am in year 12 this year, so I haven’t been on court as much as I usually am.
“The final will be a tough one. Madi is a great player, I’ll try my best and leave everything out there on the court. The last AJC I won I was 10 years old so to win my first and last would be amazing.”
Boys Under 19 top seed Oliver Curtis (WA) is on track for his third straight crown following his semi-final win against William Slade (NSW 3-0 (11-3, 11-1, 11-3).
He will face Victoria’s Andre Lynn who upset second seed Ken Lamb (NSW) in four games.
The Under 17 Boys semi-finals saw the only top seed fail to make it through to the final, with Queensland’s 3/4 seed Haider Naqvi defeating Darcy Hayes 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-2).
“I feel really proud of the win, it will be my first final,” said Naqvi. “I recently made the move to Queensland from Victoria, it has been a hard sacrifice. I have been struggling a little emotionally but to see it has paid off feels great.”
Naqvi will now meet fellow 3/4 seed Jackon Wylie (NSW) in the final following his upset win over Tasmania’s Jarrod Atkins 11-9, 11-2, 9-11, 11-1.
U15 Girls final will see defending champion Sarbani Maitra (QLD) face last year’s U13 Champion Tina Ma (VIC) after their respective semi-final wins.
“I stuck to my coach’s game plan, hitting to the back because the courts here are boiling with the ball moving around a lot,” Ma said. “I have been training well in the lead-up, practice makes perfect.
“I am hoping to do my best. Feeling a little bit nervous so hoping to stay calm in the final.”
U13 Boys defending champion and top seed Kaveen Kohombange (VIC) defeated Max Jones (NSW) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4.
“I think I will play better in the final. I want to use a lot of drops and front-court shots to make the other player run, tiring him out,” Kohombange said. “To win would mean all my hard work would come to a good ending.”
Kohombange will now meet second seed Thomas Wang (NSW) in the final.
The Under 13 Girls final is a family affair after the top two seeds Olivia and Nadia van Zon (SA) won their semi-finals.
The top seeds are also through to both Under 11 finals where Annette Chow (NSW) will meet Yashica Jiwa Mowhan (VIC) in the girls’ decider, while Benjamin Boardman (NSW) will face defending champion Kai Dumbleton (QLD) in the boys.
2023 AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Daisy Hill Squash & Racquet Club, Brisbane QLD
Thursday 28 September - Individual Finals Day
U19 Girls Madison Lyon (QLD) v Courtney Scholtz (VIC)
U19 Boys Oscar Curtis (WA) v Andre Lynn VIC
U17 Girls Lijana Sultana (QLD) v Joanne Joseph (VIC)
U17 Boys Haider Naqvi (QLD) v Jackon Wylie (NSW)
U15 Girls Sarbani Maitra (QLD) v Tina Ma (VIC)
U15 Boys Kasper Cheung (NSW) v Marcus Wang (NSW)
U13 Girls Olivia van Zon (SA) v Nadi van Zon (SA)
U13 Boys Kaveen Kohombange (QLD) v Thomas Wang (NSW)
U11 Girls Annette Chow (NSW) v Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC)
U11 Boys Benjamin Boardman (NSW) v Kai Dumbleton (QLD)
See the full schedule and follow the results HERE
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