Squash update: New Zealand's Shelley Kitchen bags award
Grabbing the noble “Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit” honour was like a cherry on cake for former squash professional Shelley Kitchen of Kaitaia. Kitchen continued on with the legacy of her father of who received the “Member of the New Zealand Order
of Merit” thirteen years ago for his remarkable services to the New Zealand fire service.
Mr. Kitchen stated that he could not have been happier as this truly capped the year off for his daughter, who retired from competitive squash after recently participating in the Women's World Team Squash Championships in Palmerston North.
Shelley is currently residing in Auckland with partner Anthony Ricketts and daughter Amalia. The former professional started playing squash at the tender age of four, spending most of her childhood in Far North.
Aged 31, Ms. Kitchen has played squash on both national and international levels for nearly two decades. This was her peak time with no 1 ranking in NZ, and a highest world ranking of no 6. She represented NZ at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, and
at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, where she grabbed silver and bronze medals in the women's doubles and women's singles respectively.
"I was definitely surprised when I heard I was getting this award. Obviously I have played a lot of squash but I don't really consider I have given a lot back to the game. However, it was an honour to be recognised for what she had achieved in the game - especially
because she grew up in such a small and isolated town as Kaitaia," said Shelley.
Kitchen went on to add that she was elevated for being awarded with an honour for her services to the sport of squash. The former professional went on to say that Kaitaia was quite far away, and that she had travel a lot in order to compete at different squash
festivals. She said that her participation was only possible due to the constant help of her family and the Kaitaia community. Shelley also extended her gratitude to the Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and Squash New Zealand for their support.
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