AJC finalists decided in Sydney

The stage is set for a fantastic final day of individual competition at the 2024 Australian Junior Championships in Sydney, with 20 finalists across 10 divisions decided today.

Nine top seeded players have made it through to the final, however there were a number of upset results on Court 8 today which has delivered a few deciders which many didn’t see coming.

The 2024 AJC Finals commence at 9am AEST on Tuesday with all tournament deciders streamed live from Court 2 on SquashAUS.TV . Third place playoff matches will also be streamed live from Court 8. 

UNDER 19
Top seed Joanne Joseph (VIC) backed up an impressive quarter-final performance with an even stronger semi to set up a finals showdown with Sarbani Maitra (QLD).

Joseph dropped just 10 points in yesterday’s match and today she conceded just three including the opening 19 points of her victory over Dakshyani Muniandy (SA).

“I was just trying to be focused and hit clear shots, get good prep for tomorrow for the finals,” said Joseph. “I never would have guessed that I’d be in the [Under 19] finals right now at 16 but just to make it here is great.

“I’m really excited and if I were able to win it tomorrow I think I’ll just be over the moon.”

Joseph is very familiar with her final opponent, given Maitra was also a member of Australia’s World Junior Championships team in Houston earlier this year.

Maitra was slow out of the blocks today dropping the opening game to Isla Harris (WA),  but after evening the match up and going point-for-point midway through the third, the Queenslander stepped it up a gear to win 18 of the last 20 points of the match and set herself up for a clash with Joseph.

“I wasn’t quite into the match in the beginning, I was feeling nervous because I’m playing up an age group I’m kind of out of my comfort zone,” said Maitra. “But I’m glad I managed to get it back and get into my game, so hopefully I can play well for tomorrow’s final.

“I don’t think we [Joanne and I] have played an AJC Final against each other so I’m looking to knock her off the top - I’m coming for her!”

The Boys Under 19 Final also sees the top two seeds going head-to-head.

Daniel Marsh (WA) finds himself in the decider after his third straight 3-0, taking down Queensland’s Josh Raj in today’s semi-final.

He comes up against AJO Champion Thomas Scott (NSW) who was pushed to his best by WJC teammate Haider Naqvi (QLD) but also managed to win 3-0.

UNDER 17
The Girls Under 17 draw was broken open over the first two days of competition and has uncovered a final which involves none of the top four seeds.

Lilly Wilson (QLD) was the first player through to the final after defeating Lucy Keogh (ACT), the only player at the AJC to have taken down a top seed on the first three days of competition.

Wilson finds herself up against Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW) who pulled off her second upset in as many days. After defeating one of the 3/4 seeds on day two, today she outlasted second seed Amelia Brigden (NSW) in a see-sawing encounter to progress 3-2.

It will be a battle of the Sydneysiders in the final of the Boys Under 17s with top seed Kasper Cheung taking on Stanley Chung.

On his home courts, Cheung was too strong for WA’s Aiden Finlay-Mulligan while Chung overcame second seed Connor Haberecht (NSW)

UNDER 15
The Under 15s Final will witness the top two seeds vying for both crowns.

Tina Ma (VIC) and Emilia Scott (NSW) today defeated South Australia’s van Zon twins to proceed to tomorrow’s Girls Final

In the boys draw, Joel Raj (QLD) and Henry Kross (NSW) will face off after each scoring their fourth 3-0 victory of the tournament.

UNDER 13
After watching her sister progress to the final in five games, Cleo Poulava (NSW) gave the crowd another lengthy match before taking her place in the Girls Under 13 decider.

Yashica Jawa Mohan (VIC) took the opening game before Poulava bounced back to lead 2-1. The Victorian then sent it to a fifth and saved two match balls but couldn’t overcome the top seed.

Poulava will now meet second seed Timo Alarcos-Kriebisch (QLD) after she took down Elizabeth Wang (NSW) in four.

Top seed Benjamin Boardman (NSW) was favoured to win his semi-final and looked impressive en route to Tuesday’s final. There he will meet one of the giant-killers of the entire AJC.

Grayson Coleman (QLD) defeated higher seeded players in both the round of 16 and quarter-finals, and today eliminated 3/4 seed Kai Dumbleton (QLD) with a come-from-behind 3-1 win.

UNDER 11
The top seeds in both the Under 11 divisions have made their way through to the Final and the opportunity to win their first national junior championship.

Abbey Boswell (QLD) dropped just six points in her quick fire victory over Preesha Dev (QLD), while Meriam Ibrahim (VIC) dropped the opening game to Samiya Sanghera (NSW) before turning the match around for a 3-1 win.

Like Boswell, Aleister Loo (VIC) hasn’t dropped a game yet this tournament after his 3-0 victory over Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) today. He will now face second seed Bodhi Wratten (NSW) who was too strong for Queensland’s Joshua Hailer Castellanos.

2024 AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thornleigh Squash & Fitness Centre
Tuesday 1 October - Finals (All matches on Court 2)

Under 11 Girls
10am AEST | [1] Abbey Boswell (QLD) v [2] Meriam Ibrahim (VIC)

Under 11 Boys
10:30am AEST | [1] Aleister Loo (VIC) v [2] Bodhi Wratten (NSW)

Under 13 Girls
11am AEST | [1] Cleo Poulava (NSW) v [2] Timonaliz Alarcos-Kriebisch (QLD)

Under 13 Boys
11:30am AEST | [1] Benjamin Boardman (NSW) v Grayson Coleman (QLD)

Under 15 Girls
12pm AEST | [1] Tina Ma (VIC) v [2] Emilia Scott (NSW)

Under 15 Boys
12:30pm AEST | [1] Joel Raj (QLD) v [2] Henry Kross (NSW)

Under 17 Girls
1pm AEST | Lilly Wilson (QLD) v Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW)

Under 17 Boys
1:30pm AEST | [1] Kasper Cheung (NSW) v [3/4] Stanley Chung (NSW)

Under 19 Girls
2pm AEST | [1] Joanne Joseph (VIC) v [2] Sarbani Maitra (QLD)

Under 19 Boys
2:30pm AEST | [1] Daniel Marsh (WA) v [2] Thomas Scott (NSW)