Rising Stars Light Up Oceania Juniors in Epic Finals in Melbourne

The 2026 Oceania Junior Championships ended with an incredible showcase of junior squash at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre, with champions crowned from four different countries in the region.

Half of the final matches went the distance to five sets with the future stars of Oceania squash playing thrilling games on the Glass Court.

Maximus Mathews (NZL) went toe-to-toe with the 2026 Australian Junior Open U19 Boys champion Kasper Cheung (NSW) in the final. He was 2-1 sets down and fought strongly to clinch the Oceania title.

The U19 Girls final was a rematch of the 2026 Australian Junior open final between Aussies Sarbani Maitra (QLD) and Joanne Joseph (VIC). While Joseph claimed the AJO title a few days prior, Maitra battled through the match to come away as the 2026 Oceania U19 champion in what was an exciting match for Aussie squash fans.

New Zealand wrapped up the U17 Oceania Girls and Boys titles with Amalia Ricketts showing her class on court to win 3-0 against Nimra Rehman (NSW). Zac Laing had to work for this title against #2 seed and fellow countryman Bihandu Nanayakkara in a 3-2 contest.

Emily Senior (JPN) got her redemption at the 2026 Oceania Junior Championships, winning the U15 Girls crown after finishing second at AJO. Angus McLaren (QLD) showed he’s an exciting prospect for the future with a 3-0 win over Naveen Sanghera (NSW).

Aussies Aleister Loo (13) and Nathan Lin (11) both finished the week with two titles to their name: Australian Junior Open Champion and Oceania Junior Champion in their respective age divisions. Ruisha Chu also bounced back from her loss in the 2026 AJO U11 Girls final to win the U11 Girls final 3-1 against Hannah Leung (NSW).

India’s Aradhana Singh impressed all week and was able to have a title to prove it, winning the U13 Girls final 3-0 against Karissa (Cheung).

To see the 2026 Oceania Junior Championships results, click here.

To watch replays of the finals matches, click here.

2026 Oceania Junior Championships Finals Results

U11 Girls - [1] Ruisha Chu (NSW) d [2] Hannah Leung (NSW) 3-1 (11-3,11-8,5-11,11-4)

U11 Boys - [1] Nathan Lin (NSW) d [2] Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) 3-2 (5-11,11-9,11-8,7-11,11-6)

U13 Girls - [1] Aradhana Singh (IND) d [3/4] Karissa Cheung (NSW) 3-0 (11-3,11-1,11-6)

U13 Boys - [1] Aleister Loo (NSW) d [2] Enze Guo (CHN) 3-1 (11-9,11-8,5-11,11-3)

U15 Girls -  [1] Emily Senior (JPN) d [5/8] Yashica Jiwa Mohan (VIC) 3-2 (11-13,8-11,11-6,11-4,11-6)

U15 Boys - [1] Angus McLaren (QLD) d [2] Naveen Sanghera (NSW) 3-0 (11-9,11-5,11-6)

U17 Girls - [1] Amalia Ricketts (NZL) d [17/32] Nimra Rehman (NSW) 3-0 (11-6,11-3,11-5)

U17 Boys - [5/8] Zac Laing (NZL) d [2] Bihandu Nanayakkara (NZL) 3-2 (8-11,11-6,9-11,11-4,11-6)

U19 Girls - [1] Sarbani Maitra (QLD) d [2] Joanne Joseph (VIC) 3-2 (13-11,11-13,11-8,10-12,11-9)

U19 Boys - [3/4] Maximus Mathews (NZL) d [2] Kasper Cheung (NSW) 3-2 (12-14,11-4,3-11,11-9,11-1)