WSF World Junior Squash Championships 20 July – 31 July 2026, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Czech Republic’s top boy Martin Stepan secured two bronze medals at the U19 European Championships in the boys’ and team events.
The upcoming World Juniors in Cairo, Egypt will be the first time Stepan will be competing in the tournament and he’s looking to make his mark on the competition.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Stepan said. “I’ve been training hard and preparing for the event, and I can’t wait to compete against the best players in my age group. It’s a great opportunity to test myself on the world stage.”
Stepan has experience of representing his country on the European stage with great success. Yet, the 18-year-old believes that he can make big improvements in Cairo since securing two bronze medals at the U19 European Championships.
“From a personal performance standpoint, I don’t think I played my best squash or fully met my goals for the U19 European Championships.
“However, representing the Czech team is always an honour. Playing side by side with teammates who have been my friends since I first started squash really means a lot to me.
“While we know we had the potential to achieve an even better result, we were proud to come away with the bronze medal. I’ll definitely look back on the event with great memories.”
A recent move to Prague has enabled Stepan to train at the notorious Squashclub Staghy. At 18-years-old, relocating to a new country is a huge lifestyle change. However, Stepan has happily embraced the challenge.
“It’s been an incredible experience. There are many strong players here, and the variety of sparring is excellent, we all push each other to get better.
“Just being around some of the top players is really inspiring. Watching how they train, warm up, and carry themselves has taught me a lot. The academy at Squashclub Strahov has everything I need, it’s a full package, from high-quality sparring and individual sessions to gym facilities and physio support.”
Squash legend Greg Gaultier is also a resident coach at the club in Prague and has worked closely with several players in the top 20.
“Having Greg Gaultier coaching at the club is also a big advantage,” Stepan said. “I’ve already learned a lot from him.”
Stepan’s main coach is Joan Lezaud. He commented on how Lezaud has offered a fresh approach to squash.
“I started working with Joan just a few months ago. Joan has brought a fresh perspective and a different approach from what I was used to, and I’ve been learning a lot of new things.
“We’ve been focusing particularly on improving my touch, racket control, and movement. It’s been a great experience so far, and I’m excited to keep developing under his guidance.”
Stepan has seen great success in his junior career to date. He savours the experiences and memories squash has given him.
“One of my top moments was winning my first junior national title in 2016 in the U11 category. It’s a core memory that gave me a lot of motivation early on.
“I also really enjoyed winning bronze medals at the European U19 Individual Championship and in the team event. Representing my country alongside teammates I’ve known for years was a proud and unforgettable experience.
“The friendships I’ve built through squash have been incredibly special. A lot of my friends are people I’ve met at tournaments over the years, and sharing those experiences, both on and off the court, means a lot to me.”
The young Czech player has future ambitions of going to college in the US when his time as a junior is over. In the interim, Stepan is working up to the biggest junior event on the tournament calendar: World Juniors.
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