The 2025 BJO marked Team USA’s twelfth annual trip to England as a team. Last year, Team USA produced a record sixteen quarterfinalists and three players recorded top three finishes. Two years ago, Team USA produced two champions in what was a historic first for the junior national team program.
ALL THE TEAM US PHOTOS AT THE BJO
California’s Vivaan Mehta became just the second American boys’ champion in history after a dramatic five-game BU15 final win, and Team USA celebrated a record five top-three finishes to close out its most successful British Junior Open campaign in program history.
Mehta, a 5/8 seed, pulled together a remarkable run to the final without dropping a game, including a 3-0 upset over the two seed in the semifinals to set up final match up against England’s top seed Ali Khalil. Mehta defeated Khalil in a five-game U.S. Junior Open semifinal, and found himself 2-1 down, 15-13, 4-11, 10-12. Mehta dug deep in between games to come back and clinch the title 11-8, 11-4 after fifty-one minutes.
“This is like nothing I’ve ever done before,” Mehta said. “Compared to winning something like the U.S. or Dutch Junior Open, this is another feeling. Each year, I feel like the US team is getting better and closer to the Egyptians.”
Team USA was one of four nations to claim a title, joining Pakistan, India and Egypt who earned seven of ten titles.
Alexander Dartnell, who made history by becoming the first American to reach the BU19 finals, endured an equally dramatic five-game final but found himself on the losing end in front of a packed gallery. Dartnell, a 9/16 seed, fell against Egypt’s 5/8 seed Eiad Daoud 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7 in fifty-nine minutes.
Team USA set a new milestone with four players reaching the podium–an improvement on three top three finishes in 2024–with Christian Capella (BU19) and Alice Wang (GU11) both earning bronze medals.
Other top ten finishes included Alex Jaffe (5th, GU19), John-Jayden Luo (5th, BU15), Chelsea Chen (6th, GU15), Vivienne Sze (7th, GU15) and Isabella Tang (8th, GU15)
Other new program milestones included six semifinalists and eighteen quarterfinalists. Of the fifty-eight player contingent, thirty-five reached the round of sixteen.
“This year’s British Junior Open was special and historic on so many fronts,” said Karim Ibrahim, US Squash Director of Junior National Teams.
“I’m thankful to the parents, players, and coaches for the energy and support throughout the week. I’m so proud of every player for fighting hard and with integrity and we are excited for what the future holds.”
Team USA Coaching Staff:
Karim Ibrahim, US Squash Director of Junior National Teams
Nick Taylor, The Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach
Luke Butterworth, Head National Junior Men’s Coach
Charlie Johnson, U.S. Junior National Team Coach
Laurent Elriani (Squash Tigers)
Ashraf Yassin (Corner Squash)
Nasr Magdy (Houston Squash Club)
Chris Longman (Germantown Cricket Club)
Vanessa Raj (Bay Club Redwood City)
Ronny Vlassaks (Squash on Fire)
Olivia Clyne (Former world No. 11)
Kim Clearkin, US Squash Chief Programs Officer
Mehta’s BU15 Title Caps Historic British Junior Open for Team USA
