Perth turns up the heat, finalists turn on the class

On Perth's hottest day for five months it was only fitting that the Australian Junior Championship finals produced some sizzling squash at Squashworld Mirrabooka.

While the top seeds made it through to the finals in most divisions, not all lived up to their star billing to claim titles, unable to find their 'a-games' in the white-hot cauldron that is championship squash.  

Queenslanders took the lions' share of the titles, triumphing in the U11 boys, U13 boys, U15 girls, U17 girls (where Lijana Sultana added the AJC crown to her Australian Junior Open title won in Bendigo in April) and u19 girls divisions.

While the standard of squash across all divisions was exceptional, the U17 girls final was probably the match of the day, a 44-minute slugfest as top seed Amelie Guziak (Vic) took on Lijana Sultana (QLD).

"It was very challenging, she played really well but in the end I think I fought a bit more," said Sultana of her 12-10 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-4  victory.

New South Wales' Emmy Lamb sealed third with a straight game win over South Australian Kaitlyn Hall.

The U11 girls final also went the distance, Elizabeth Wang (NSW) toppling top seed Riyo Kawabata (QLD) 11-4 7-11 11-4 10-12 11-3.

"My coach told me not to hit the serve out and also told me to hit it to her backhand. That's what I did and eventually won the game," said Wang.

WA's Teagan Scott won the 3-4 playoff 11-5 11-7 11-43 over Abby Boswell (QLD).

Queensland's Sarbani Maitra also claimed the scalp of a top seed, accounting for Soha Khatri (SA) 11-5 11-6 11-7 in the U15 girls medal match.

"I feel awesome. A couple of things I had to change from the Australian Junior Open, I worked more on my mental game and think it was quite evident. The last couple of times she (Khatri) has beaten me and it feels really awesome to finally come out and show my skill," said Maitra.

Victorian Joanne Joseph took third place after an 11-2 11-2 11-2 demolition of Madison Nargar (NSW).

Another Victorian, Tina Ma, bucked the trend of top seeds falling, coming away with a hard-fought 11-4 11-9 11-9 win over Emilia Scott (NSW) in the U13 girls final.

"It was really good; so many shots were really tough but I managed to get them. Before the final I had a hit with Anthony Hill, one of my coaches, and that got me really pumped up," said Ma, who was pleased with her drives and drop shots.

Jasmin Dumbleton (QLD) and Claudi Burger (QLD) had a ding-dong contest in the third-place playoff, Dumbleton triumphing 11-9 11-13 11-6 11-6 in 34 minutes.

In the u19 girls, top seed Madison Lyon's (QLD) form got sharper and sharper as the match progressed, coming away with a 12-10 11-8 11-3 win over second-seed Erin Classen (WA).

"I thought it was good, but there is definitely stuff to improve," Lyon said afterwards, adding that her level rose in the third game because "I saw the finish line and just wanted to get there."

Maggie Goodman (NSW) put in a marathon effort to edge Queensland's Kurstyn Mather 9-11 11-3 7-11 11-4 11-9 in the 3/4 playoff.

In the boys' medal matches, all top seeds who made the final (u13, u15 and u19) took the chocolates.

Oscar Curtis (WA) kept things tight in the u19 boys final against second-seed Luke Eyles (QLD) winning 11-1 11-8 11-6.

"I kept the intensity high and stayed pretty solid," said Curtis, who made light of the sticky conditions and said the ace up his sleeve during the final was his boast. "I have to reset my mind for the teams," said Curtis, who is eyeing a professional squash career.

WA teammates Dylan Classen and Gregory Chan fought out the 3/4 playoff, with Classen getting over the line in an epic 53-minute encounter (the second-longest match in the championships), 11-4 10-12 11-8 7-11 9-11.

The u13 boys final was a heavyweight clash between the top two seeds, Queenslander Joel Roshan Raj and Henry Kross (NSW), with Raj prevailing in an entertaining encounter with high quality shotmaking.

"It was pretty tough, Henry played an amazing game and I had to play my best," said Raj, adding that the hot conditions were making it hard to get "kills" during a rally.

Queensland teammate James Boswell won the 3/4 match against Kaveen Kohombange in four games.

New South Wales' Kasper Cheung showed his class when it mattered most to best Marcus Wang (NSW) 6-11 11-5 12-10 11-4 in the u15 boys final with WA's Aiden Finlay-Mulligan triumphing over Connor Haberecht in the 3/4 match.

"I was down one game and I just reset a little bit, got my length going and pulled through," said Cheung, who also credited his 'lucky' pink socks for getting him across the line in the final.

In the boys u11, two relative outsiders - Queensland's Kai Dumbleton and Grayson Coleman (5/8 seed) - rolled all before them to reach the medal match, Dumbleton getting there 11-4 16-14 11-0.

"It was intense in the second game but it was fun for me and Grayson," said Kai, who said his prowess with drop shots and "hitting hard" was the difference in the match.

Lewis Matthews (NSW) took the 3/4 match over Toby Trewern (QLD) 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 8-11.

In the u17 boys, Daniel Marsh (WA) became the lowest ranked player (9/16) to take out a title, defeating William Slade (NSW) 5-11 7-11 5-11.

"It felt amazing..I haven't played a tournament for ages. It was good to back out there and hard work pays off," said Marsh, who credited his victory to "great length" in his shotmaking.

Queensland's Joshua Rahul Raj sealed 3rd spot with a 0-11, 2-11, 4-11 win over Thomas Scott (NSW).

Attention now switches to the teams event, which begins Friday September 30.

For a full list of results, go to https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/2022-Australian-Junior-Championships-1

Finals results

U11 Boys

Kai Dumbleton (QLD) def Grayson Coleman (QLD) 11-4 16-14 11-0

U13 Boys

(1) Joel Roshan Raj (QLD) def Henry Kross (NSW) 11-9 12-10 9-11 11-6

U15 Boys

(1) Kasper Cheung (NSW) def Marcus Wang (NSW) 6-11 11-5 12-10 11-4

U17 Boys

Daniel Marsh (WA) def William Slade (NSW) 11-5 11-7 11-5

U19 Boys

(1) Oscar Curtis (WA) def Luke Eyles (QLD) 11-1 11-8 11-6

Girls

U11 girls

Eizabeth Wang (NSW) def (1) Riyo Kawabata (QLD) 11-4 7-11 11-4 10-12 11-3

U13 girls

(1) Tina Ma (Vic) def Emilia Scott (NSW) 11-4 11-9 11-9

U15 girls

Sarbani Maitra (QLD) def (1) Soha Khatri (SA) 11-5 11-6 11-7

U17 girls

Lijana Sultana (QLD) def (1) Amelie Guziak (Vic) 12-10 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-4 

U19 girls

(1) Madison Lyon (QLD) def (2) Erin Classen (WA) 12-10 11-8 11-3