Bermudian prospect Ben Sherratt produced a sensational run of form to capture the Boys’ Under-13 title at the 2026 PVD Squash Junior Gold tournament in Providence, Rhode Island, stunning the top seed in the final.
The triumph marks Sherratt’s maiden title at US Junior Gold level and continues a stellar summer and autumn campaign for the Somersfield Academy student.
Sherratt demonstrated immense resilience in a gruelling five-game semi-final against third seed Yousuf Khalil. After clinching an epic opening game 16-14 and consolidating with an 11-6 win in the second, the young Bermudian was pegged back as Khalil claimed the third and fourth games 11-9 and 11-6.
Refusing to let the contest slip away, Sherratt regained his composure in the decider, dominating the front court to close out the match 11-5 and book his spot in the final.
Lining up against number one seed Muhammed Arshad Burki in the showpiece match, Sherratt carried that fighting spirit through another high-tempo battle.
He established early control to take the first two games 11-8 and 12-10. Burki struck back in the third, winning 11-4, but Sherratt held his nerve in a tight fourth game to seal an 11-9 victory and secure the championship 3-1.
The breakthrough victory in Rhode Island adds to an impressive list of overseas accolades for Sherratt in recent months.
In August, he claimed top honours at the Boston Squash Junior Silver and reached the podium with a third-place finish at the Detroit Summer Junior Gold, having taken silver at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in the British Virgin Islands in July.
Bermuda Squash Association Head of Squash Micah Franklin hailed the milestone victory as a significant achievement for the sport locally:
“We are thrilled to have Ben competing internationally on the US Junior Circuit, and even more thrilled to see him winning at that level,” Franklin said. “This level of competition at such a young age is remarkable for such a small squash country like Bermuda. I’m excited to watch this next generation of squash players continue to grow and develop their games to become competitive on the world stage.”
The haul of ranking points accumulated in Providence will significantly bolster Sherratt’s seeding for a busy winter on the international junior circuit.
The youngster has set his sights firmly on two premier global tournaments in December, targeting a top-four finish at the Canadian Junior Open and a top-16 finish at the US Junior Open.
Sherratt credited his progress to the guidance of coach Franklin, while also paying tribute to the adult members at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association who regularly test him in sparring matches, as well as Somersfield Academy for backing his academic and rigorous training commitments.
