A SCHOOLBOY served up a spectacle as he won an international squash tournament.

Jonah Bryant, 12, was hailed the best junior player in the world after seeing off his Egyptian rival in straight sets to get his hands on the British Junior Open trophy.

The Lancing College Prep pupil now has his sights set on a professional career after a whirlwind three years took him to the top of his age category.

“At first it was just something to do after school instead of homework,” he said.

“But there’s no point dropping off now because I want to be good enough to make a living out of squash.”

The tournament is open to hundreds of players from all around the world, making it the international benchmark for young players trying to make their way in the global game.

Jonah, from Shoreham, was named after Jonah Barrington, nicknamed Mr Squash, who won the senior British Open four times in a row in the 1970s.

“I didn’t want my children to be on the PlayStation all the time, turning into vegetables,” said his dad Ross, 46.

“He’s put a huge amount of time and effort into his squash and it was such a proud moment for me to see him win.

“He didn’t have a great game in the semi-final but I took him to one side before the final and said ‘We’re going to get an eight out of ten out of you this time’. He absolutely destroyed his opponent in the end.”

Coach Ben Hutton, who puts Jonah through his paces at Coral Health Club in Hove, said he was a special player.

“The competition can’t get anywhere near him,” he said.

“He has a very old head on young shoulders and from a very young age he has had a real understanding of how to control a squash ball.

“But he’s got his feet firmly on the ground,and that’s why everyone at the club loves him.

“He’s a real cheeky chappy.”

Jonah’s love affair with the sport began when he was nine.

He said: “I just love squash.

“You have to be a lot fitter than in most other sports and you can be a lot more creative because you have four walls to play off.

“It’s been quite surreal.”

“After I won it didn’t kick in until about five minutes. I wasn’t sure if it was real.”

His victory makes him the second British champion produced by Corals, after Tom Walsh won the under-19 championship in October.