Amarya Bajaj Wins Dutch Junior Open U-13 Title, Announces Himself as India's Next Squash Star

Indian squash continues to produce exciting young talent, and 13-year-old Amarya Bajaj has added another major milestone to his rapidly growing résumé by winning the Under-13 Boys' title at the Dutch Junior Open 2026 in Amsterdam.

The young Indian delivered an outstanding week of squash, defeating some of the world's top junior players before overcoming England's Daniel Stevenson 3-1 in the final to lift one of Europe's most prestigious junior squash titles. The triumph comes just weeks after Bajaj claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Asian Junior Championships in China, further strengthening his credentials as one of India's brightest young prospects. At just 13 years of age, he has already established himself among the leading players in his age category and continues to build an impressive international record.

Amarya entered the Dutch Junior Open with growing confidence following his success at the Asian Junior Championships and immediately showcased the form that would carry him all the way to the title. His opening-round match saw him face an opponent from Egypt, one of the world's traditional squash powerhouses. The Indian youngster produced a composed and disciplined performance, winning comfortably in straight games to progress to the next round.

He carried that momentum into the second round against England's Arlo Smith. Facing another strong opponent from a nation renowned for producing world-class squash players, Amarya once again displayed excellent shot selection and movement around the court to secure another convincing 3-0 victory.

The two successive wins provided early evidence that the Indian was capable of challenging for the championship.

The defining moment of Amarya's campaign came in the pre-quarterfinals. Standing across the court was Singapore's Kaelen Low, the tournament's top seed and one of the favourites for the title. Despite the challenge, the Indian youngster produced one of his finest performances of the tournament. Playing with remarkable confidence and tactical maturity, Amarya dominated the contest from start to finish, registering an emphatic 3-0 victory.

Defeating the tournament's No. 1 seed in such convincing fashion immediately established him as one of the strongest contenders for the title. The performance also highlighted his ability to perform under pressure against highly ranked opponents.

The difficulty of Amarya's route to the title became even more evident in the quarterfinals. He faced another talented Egyptian player, Badr Hassan, in a match that tested his resilience.

Although Hassan managed to take a game, the Indian remained composed throughout the contest, eventually securing a 3-1 victory to book his place in the semifinals.

The win demonstrated another important aspect of his game. Unlike earlier rounds where he controlled proceedings throughout, the quarterfinal required him to respond after facing increased resistance. His ability to regain control and close out the match reflected impressive mental strength for a player of his age.

The semifinals presented another major challenge as Amarya faced Hungary's Alex Kosztyu, the European No. 1. Competing against one of Europe's strongest junior players, the Indian once again produced an exceptional display. Using intelligent court positioning, accurate length and excellent movement, Amarya neutralised his opponent's strengths and secured another straight-games victory. Blanking Europe's top-ranked player underlined the consistency with which he performed throughout the tournament.

It also ensured he entered the final with significant momentum.

The championship match brought together two players who had impressed throughout the week. England's Daniel Stevenson entered the final as one of the tournament favourites, but Amarya produced another mature performance to complete his remarkable campaign. The Indian won the contest 3-1, displaying a combination of attacking flair and defensive discipline that proved too strong for the English player.

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With every stage of the tournament presenting increasingly difficult opposition, Amarya consistently found solutions and adapted his game to each challenge. His performances against players from England, Singapore, Egypt and Hungary highlighted both his technical quality and tactical awareness.

The Dutch Junior Open title continues an outstanding season for the young Indian. Only weeks earlier, Amarya had claimed the silver medal at the Asian Junior Championships in China, competing against the continent's strongest young players. Combined with his earlier Asian Junior medals, the Dutch Junior Open triumph further establishes him among the leading Under-13 squash players in the world.

Success across both Asian and European competitions demonstrates his ability to compete consistently against diverse styles of play and opponents from different squash traditions.

India has a proud history in international squash, producing legends such as Saurav Ghosal, Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa while continuing to develop talented youngsters through a strong domestic structure.

Amarya Bajaj now appears ready to become part of the next generation carrying that legacy forward. His performances in Amsterdam showcased qualities rarely seen in players of his age technical consistency, tactical intelligence, composure under pressure and the ability to deliver against higher-ranked opponents.

Perhaps most impressively, his route to the title required victories over players from several of the world's strongest squash nations, making the achievement even more significant.

As Amarya continues to develop physically and technically, Indian squash will hope he can make a seamless transition through the junior ranks into senior international competition.

Winning the Dutch Junior Open at just 13 years of age represents more than an individual milestone. It signals the emergence of another exciting Indian talent capable of competing with the world's best. With a European title now added to his growing collection of international achievements, Amarya Bajaj has firmly established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in world junior squash and a name Indian sports fans are likely to hear much more of in the years ahead.