Egypt’s Mohamad Zakaria completed his junior career this week, ending with an incredible run of 33 consecutive matches without dropping a single game.
The 2026 World Junior Squash Championships saw Zakaria make history once again, lifting the World Junior Team Championship with Egypt and becoming the first men’s player to win the individual crown three times.
However, regaining the title for a historic third time, wasn’t the only remarkable feat Zakaria achieved in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as he finished his junior career with a streak of 33 matches without defeat, a run that stretches back to his defeat to Pakistan’s Hamza Khan in the 2023 World Junior final.
Completing his junior career in dominant form, Zakaria shared what the achievement meant to him. He said:
“It feels amazing, and I had this in the back of my mind throughout the tournament.
“And knowing that I haven’t dropped a game in three years at this event, I feel like this is the best possible way to close out my time as a junior.”
Zakaria continued: “I am so proud that my family and coach, JP [Jonathon Power], are able to be here with me through this. I am just so happy to have achieved it.
“All the work that I have put in over the years, has really paid off. It’s a great feeling.”
Achieving the incredible run over the past three events, there were a number of times that this record was under threat, with the most recent being in this year’s World Squash Junior Teams semi-finals against France’s Amir Khaled-Jousselin.
Trailing 10-7 in the second game, it looked as though Zakaria’s remarkable run was about to come to an end as France’s No.1 string pushed him to the limit. However, the young Egyptian dug deep to rescue the game before closing out the match 11-3, 12-10, 12-10.
At the closing ceremony of the team event, the World No.7 reflected on the semi-final encounter. He said:
“He played very well, but after you finish the individuals you are in a more relaxed mindset. I knew it was possible, but I am just glad that I was able to dig in and pull through.
“He is a great player, and that streak was in the back of my mind, so to come out the other side with the win made me very happy.”
With Zakaria soon turning 19 and ageing out of the junior competition, he also reflected on what it means to leave the age category on top. He continued:
“Finishing with three titles in both the individuals and teams, makes me feel on top of the world to be honest, and achieving this, adds to the already incredible resume that I have.
“I feel like I really deserve this. I have put in so much hard work in to achieve this, and I have tried so many times previously in the junior events and it didn’t work out.
“So, I feel like all of my efforts have turned into a reward.
“I have achieved a lot of records in this tournament, so to finish winning 33 matches without dropping a game I’m very proud, as this was very tough. It’s a record and run that I hope never gets broken.”
