World Junior Championships: 37 nations to compete in Nancy, France

These days, young athletes from 37 countries will travel to Nancy, France, to start the games of this year's World Junior Squash Championships.

From August 11 to 21, top squash players from every inhabited continent compete in the World Junior Championships, which will feature individual competitions among boys and girls, as well as team competitions among boys.

210 players will compete individually in the men's competition, and 92 players from 23 teams will participate in the team competition. At the same time, 90 athletes will compete in the women's event.

Alyona Ogonesyan, vice-president of the Squash Federation of Ukraine, said: "Tomorrow is the start of an important tournament for our juniors, first the individual competition, then we move on to the team competition. We have taken many steps on the way to their participation, and it is very important for us that each of them can compete with the best at such a time. Our team is very grateful to the French Squash Federation (FSF), the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (NOSCF) and the World Squash Federation - this is a great opportunity to represent Ukraine at such a time, especially when this tournament is now not held in the country of the aggressor that attacked our Motherland

As a vice-president, I have the honor to accompany our juniors and be present with them at such an important tournament for them. Then only more. I wish our entire team success, forward to victories and raising the flag on the podium. Everything will be Ukraine!"

The hosts of the championship also plan to claim the first places this year. France's Victor Kruin and Grégory Gaultier won silver in 2017 and 2000, while Camille Serme and Isabelle Ster achieved the same in 2007 and 1997.

However, not only the French, but also the rest of the participating countries, will face strong opposition from Egypt. No non-Egyptian has won the Girls' Individual title since Amanda Sobhy (USA) in 2010. We will remind that the current third racket of the world Haniya El Hammami is the reigning champion.

Among the boys, the Egyptians have also been holding their ground for the last 3 years, the world number three among men, Mostafa Asal, is the current champion.

If for the French and Egyptians this is a regular championship, then for our country it is a historic event. This year, for the first time, Ukraine delegated a team of junior squash players to the World Championship.

(on the photo: Oleksandr Bulgakov, Kostyantyn Rybalchenko, Tymofiy Radionov and Alyona Ogonesyan)

Coach Oleksandr Bulgakov says: "Participation in the Under-19 World Championship itself is an event for Ukrainian squash. Considering the current situation in the country, the Squash Federation of Ukraine found an opportunity to send a team and athletes to the championship for individual competition, and the French Squash Federation took over the financial costs of accommodation, travel, food and contributions."

The strongest players of the country - Shcherbakov Dmytro and Radionov Tymofiy - will defend the individual championship among the boys, and Milena Velichko will perform among the girls.

Coach Kostyantyn Rybalchenko added: "This is the debut World Championship for all participants. Competing, watching and spending 10 days among players from all over the world is a great incentive for everyone. Such championships give birth to new stars and set a new trend for world squash.

For each of them, this is another opportunity to show themselves to the world, to realize their skills and demonstrate their best results."

Regarding the seeding of participants in the first round. The grids of the competition were published as early as Sunday, so both the coach and the athletes had time to analyze the chances of winning and assess the level of the opponents. On this occasion, Kostyantyn Rybalchenko says: "The first games are always difficult for both sides, as the players have not met on the court before. We have a game plan and tomorrow we will be able to implement it on the court!"

Tomorrow is the start of the games and a new story for our athletes and our country. Timofei Radionov and Milena Velichko will start the match at 11:10 Kyiv time. Dima Shcherbakov will start a little later - at 1:30 p.m. Tune in tomorrow on YouTube to support our juniors. We wish our trio good luck and victories!

The line-up of countries at the 2022 World Junior Squash Championship

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