The World Junior Squash championships are the official junior tournament in the game of squash conducted by the World Squash Federation (WSF).[1][2] Entry is open to individuals aged 19 and below.[3][4] Since its inception, the world juniors has been held biennially with the junior men (individual and team) held one year, junior women (individual and team) the following year.[5][6] The men's team event was held unofficially from 1973 to 1979.[7] The individuals event (for both men's and women's) are held annually starting from 2009 while the team event remains biennial.[5][6]
Jansher Khan won the World Junior individual title in Brisbane in 1986. Making him the only player in the history of squash who was also the World Open Champion during the same year.Chris Dittmar was the runner-up for the individual championship in 1980 and 1982.
The team event was started unofficially in April 1973 to coincide with the British Junior Open tournament which was held annually in Britain. Only four countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Sweden) took part in the event which was held at the courts of the National Westminster Bank Sports Ground in South London, playing for a shield presented by the bank.[7]
The official men's world team championship tournament has been held since 1980. It has been won by 4 countries. The record number of countries participating in a single men's team tournament is 31, in the 2000 and the 2008 tournament held in Milan, Italy and Zürich, Switzerland respectively.[7]
Nicol David is the first squash player to have won the individual World Junior title twice (1999 and 2001).Nour El Sherbini holds the record with three world titles, including the youngest world junior champion at the age of 13.
The women's individual championship is the WSA Junior Tier 1 tournament and players who compete in the tournament are awarded ranking points for the official "Rising Stars" rankings.[11]
Official women's world team championship tournaments has been held since 1985. It has been won by 4 different countries. The record number of countries participating in a single tournament is 20, in the 2005 tournament held in Herentals, Belgium.[13]