Squash player Joelle King has become the first-ever athlete to win 11 New Zealand Squash Championship titles, breaking legend Dame Susan Devoy's 32-year-old record.
The 35-year-old came up against 18-year-old up-and-comer Ella Lash in the women's final in Tauranga this weekend.
King dropped one game before beating Lash 11-5, 7-11, 11-3, 11-8.
She said she used to dream of winning one championship as a child and that winning 11 was "surreal".
"I'll never match some of Suzie’s records but to beat one of them is no mean feat and I’m really pleased."
Sidelined from the sport for eight months with a disc problem in her back and a torn meniscus, King described the period as the "toughest time of my career".
"To just be back on court playing is a big win. I’ve been extremely emotionally but I’m so happy to have got through the weekend pain-free."
Devoy said for King to come back from repeated injury was "inspiring".
"Seeing how emotionally affected she was by being on court was something both hard to see but also really fantastic knowing how much it means to her to be back playing, let alone winning a national title," Devoy said.
The NZ Squash Championship saw 44 athletes play around 125 matches at the Devoy Squash and Fitness Centre in Tauranga.
SHARE ME