The juniors took centre stage at the 45th All Jamaica Squash Championship for the first two days which began on Sunday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.

Mehar Trehan and Ethan Miller lit up the courts and were the big winners among the other age group performers on Monday night.

Trehan and Sanjana Nallapati both got to the final of the Girls’ Under-19 category after not losing any of their preliminary matches. Trehan, who is the reigning Caribbean Under-17 squash champion, battled the more experienced Nallapati in a thrilling five-setter that tested their skill and fitness to the very last stroke.

Trehan lost the first two games 6/11, 9/11 but was not daunted as she roared back to take the final three games 11/6, 11/7, 11/4 for a 3-2 score line overall to win the junior championship in a tension-filled match in front of a very vocal crowd.

Trehan was ecstatic with the win. “It feels amazing. I’m gonna have the best sleep of my life. Oh, my gosh! This was a good day,” she said.

“That was hard fought and I have to say that we both gave it our all today. And I’m super proud of her. I’m super proud of myself. It comes down to the mental state of it. I’ve played her so much that I know her game in and out. She knows my game in an out. We’re neighbours you know, so I think really being locked into this match and really focusing in on my strokes and my game strategy really brought it home for me,” said Trehan.

In the U17/U15 sections Priya Stoddart got the better of Marley Pryce in a 3-1 score line.

The Girls’ U13 final went to Marley Pryce who took out Verenya Singh in a very competitive five-setter after scores of 11/5, 8/11, 7/11, 11/7, 11/4.

On the boys’ side, Ethan Miller celebrated a straight sets win over Max Henzell in the Under-17 final. Miller dominated Henzell 11/1, 11/2, 11/5.

Miller said his preparation was key.

“My preparation, I do a lot of fitness work. I do some running, a lot of on court by myself, solo time, drives, all those things. Practising my shots, technique, I do match play to work on my awareness. I think that’s my routine coming into this tournament. I think I was well prepared,” he said.

The Boys’ Under-15 category went to Govind Vengugopal who defeated Judah Tavares-Finson 11/8, 7/11, 7/11, 11/6, 6/11.

The Boys’ Under-13 section went to Jaden Emery in straight sets (11/4, 11/6, 11/4) over Dendra Stoddart.

The seniors started their competition on Monday and will be on court until Saturday’s finals in the various categories.

Mary Mahfood is back to defend her title while number one seed on the men’s side, Louis Walter, enters the fray after not playing in Jamaica since 2019.

The sponsors for this year’s All Jamaica Junior and Senior Squash Championships are GraceKennedy Capital Management, Boilerco, Blinds Designs and Wata.