The future of squash in Canada is very bright, as junior Canadian squash players continue to model themselves as fierce competitors to the rest of the world. Seven of Canada’s talented junior players have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 WSF World Junior Squash Championships, being held in Chennai, India, from July 18-29, 2018. The Championship is comprised of the Men’s and Women’s Individual events followed by the Men’s Team event.
The future of squash in Canada is very bright, as junior Canadian squash players continue to model themselves as fierce competitors to the rest of the world. Seven of Canada’s talented junior players have been chosen to represent Canada at the 2018 WSF World Junior Squash Championships, being held in Chennai, India, from July 18-29, 2018. The Championship is comprised of the Men’s and Women’s Individual events followed by the Men’s Team event.
Squash Canada is thrilled to announce the six Junior Men and one Junior Woman who will wear the red and white in India. The Canadian Junior Men’s Team is made up of James Flynn (ON), George Crowne (ON), Julien Gosset (ON), and Ryan Picken (BC). All four will compete in the World Junior Men’s Individual event as well as the team event. Additionally, Darosham Khan (ON) and Salaheldin Eltgorman (ON) will be competing in the Men’s individual event while PEI’s Emma Jinks will be the sole Canadian female competing in the Women’s individual event.
James Flynn (Toronto, ON) – Flynn, 17, is currently ranked #1 in the country for junior boys, a well-deserved placement. He was recently appointed as the Canadian squash ambassador for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and will travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina this October. The Toronto native claimed the 2018 U19 Canadian Junior Championship title, which helped him secure his spot on the Canadian team for the 2018 WSF World Junior Team Championship. Flynn has competed internationally before, however this tournament marks the first time he will compete at a World Championship.
George Crowne (Toronto, ON) – Crowne, 17, is a rising star in the junior squash circuit, as he automatically earned his spot on this years WSF World Junior Championship Team due to his performance throughout the season. Crowne has been among the top juniors for awhile, succeeding in many national championships, including winning the 2017 Boys U17 Canadian Squash Championship title. Most recently he placed second in the inaugural 2018 Canadian U23 Squash Championship and played against an older group of boys, demonstrating exactly why he deserves to compete on the international stage.
Julien Gosset (Toronto, ON) – Gosset, 18, has just finished his freshman year at Harvard University where he had an amazing rookie season with their squash team. Before Harvard, he was a four-time provincial champion and two-time national finalist. Most recently, Gosset placed third in the 2017 Boys U19 Canadian Junior Squash Championship. His experience playing NCAA squash is going to be an asset to his team at the WSF World Junior Team Championship.
Ryan Picken (Vancouver, BC) – Picken, 18, has had much success in his squash career thus far, one notable highlight being qualifying for the Men’s Open category at the 2018 Canadian Squash Championships. Picken was also the BU19 finalist in a very close final match at the 2017 Canadian Junior Championship. He has proven through many national squash championships and through the Team Trials why he deserves to represent Canada and is definitely going to be a key part of this Canadian squad.
Darosham Khan (Toronto, ON) – Khan, 17, has already participated in two international squash events this year, including the Chamberlain Open (Nigeria) and the British Junior Open. Khan has demonstrated his skill by playing in the quarter-final round of both the 2018 Canadian Junior Squash Championships and the 2017 Canadian Junior Open. Competing against the best junior squash players across the world as an individual in the WSF World Junior Championship will be an essential step forward for Khan in his squash career.
Salaheldin Eltgorman (Toronto, ON) – Eltgorman, 15, has had an incredible international run in the junior circuit. At only 14-years old he participated in the 2017 WSF World Junior Championship in New Zealand, facing off against players who were three years older than him. He also competed in the 2017 Boys U15 British Junior Open where he made it to the third-round. With this experience under his belt at such a young age, Eltgorman is sure to be a fierce competitor at this year’s WSF World Junior Championship individual event.
Emma Jinks (Stratford, PEI) – Jinks, 18, is no stranger to international competition, as she was a member of the Junior Women’s World Championship Team that travelled to New Zealand last summer. This year she will test her luck in the individual event at the WSF Junior World Championships. Jinks is currently ranked #1 in the women’s U19 division as she has been continuously excelling in the junior circuit. Jinks claimed the 2017 Girls U19 Canadian Junior Squash Championship title when she was only 16-years old and in the same year won the 2017 Canadian Junior Open in GU19.
Veteran Canadian Junior coach, Jonathan Hill (AB), will lead the Junior squad at the 2018 WSF World Junior Squash Championships. “Since the last Junior World’s in 2016, Canada has had one of the strongest group of players vying for positions for the 2018 team,” said Hill. “The final Team Trials event proved this, and the athletes showcased their squash prowess at The [Toronto] Cricket Club; they should all be proud of their accomplishments”
Hill has confidence in the athletes that they will represent Canada well at the Championships. “The team that will be competing in India shows incredible depth and we look forward to strong results in both the Individuals and the Team events”.
You can follow Canada’s junior squad during their 2018 Worlds journey by following Squash Canada’s twitter and liking us on Facebook as we share news, updates, schedule, photos, results and more on the squad leading up to and during the championships. For more information on the WSF World Junior Championships visit https://www.wsfworldjuniors.com/
