Anabel Sports

Hey everyone! Here is my long awaited update on my trip to Egypt, representing Team NZ on the world stage! I just wanted to say thank you all so much for all your support, I couldn’t have done it without you all! ❤️❤️

Late in the afternoon on the 16th of July, my team of 12 and I hopped on board for what would be a day-and-a-half of travel. The first leg was a gruelling 17-hour flight to Dubai. From Dubai, we had a 4-hour flight to Cairo, where the entire team was forced to stay up so we could start our preparations for the World Champs by trying our best to prevent jetlag. Once we landed, it was all go. It was 11 a.m., and the first thing we discovered about Egypt was that road rules simply didn’t exist. A drive that was supposed to take 30 minutes somehow stretched into just over an hour. When we finally arrived at our hotel, we learned there was no Wi-Fi or internet. That’s when it hit us - we were all completely addicted to our phones, and without them, we were a bit lost.

Egypt was a whole new world compared to life back home in New Zealand, and the cultural shock hit fast. For starters, the call to prayer happened multiple times a day, echoing through the streets, a beautiful reminder that we were definitely not in Palmy anymore. Then there were the roads. I’d thought New Zealand drivers could be impatient, but in Cairo it was like a competitive sport. Lanes were more of a suggestion than a rule, and the horn was clearly the most important part of the car. Tap water? Not an option, bottled water became our new best friend. And food, while amazing, came with a side of caution: you had to think twice before eating anything that might turn “a quick snack” into “a quick trip to the bathroom.” It was equal parts fascinating and overwhelming, but it made me appreciate just how different the world can be outside our own little corner.
In the individual competition, I began with a closely contested 3/1 loss to France. My opponent was exceptionally strong and later defeated a top 10 ranked player, which reinforced my confidence in my ability to compete at the highest level. My second match, against the Czech Republic, was particularly challenging. The night before, I became ill from food poisoning, and although I was already feeling unwell, I pushed through and completed the match, proud of the mental toughness it took to compete under those conditions.
The following day, I faced Australia in what became one of the proudest moments of my career. Still severely ill, I was 2/0 down in games and trailing 10-6 in the deciding set, yet I fought back with every ounce of energy and focus I had left to win 12-10 in the fifth. This comeback, while battling nausea and fatigue, stands as my biggest personal achievement to date. Building on that momentum, I secured a 3-0 win over Germany, followed by strong victories over South Africa and one of my own New Zealand teammates - a match that demanded professionalism and focus despite our friendship off the court. I concluded the individual event with a 3/0 win over Wales in the Constellation Plate final, a title that represents the hard work, discipline, and resilience I brought to the tournament.
In the teams event, I gained valuable experience against the eventual champions, Egypt, playing a long, hard-fought match against the third/fourth seed in the main draw. I went on to contribute to our 3/0 team win over Macau, China, despite my body beginning to tire from the demanding schedule and ongoing recovery from illness. One of my toughest matches came against Australia, where I battled through another intense five-setter. Although I narrowly lost, I was proud to give everything I had despite the fatigue of having played more than nine matches already, compared to my opponent’s four. I then bounced back with a commanding 3/0 victory over Brazil and concluded the championship with a dominant 3/0 win over Ireland.
Overall, my campaign at the World Junior Squash Championships was a test of both skill and character. Out of 15 matches, I achieved numerous 3/0 victories, claimed the Constellation Plate title, and produced one of the most memorable comebacks of my career. These results, achieved under challenging circumstances, have strengthened my determination to keep competing internationally and to inspire and mentor the next generation of squash players.
Aside from the squash, we had the classic “pyramids experience” - which, as it turns out, is not as straightforward as you might think. The drive there was… interesting. Our driver clearly had no idea where we were going, and what was meant to be a 40-minute ride somehow stretched into over two hours. At one point, a random guy claimed to be a cop and got onto our bus, it honestly felt like we were being kidnapped - but after some awkward back-and-forth, we got him off, found the right road, and finally made it to the entrance.
From there, it was onto the camels - which was a true bucket-list moment. Camels are amazing animals, but they’re also… slightly terrifying when you’re sitting two metres up in the air and they suddenly decide to stand up. One minute you’re looking majestic, the next you’re holding on for dear life and hoping you don’t become the latest YouTube fail video!! Still, riding across the sand with the pyramids in the background was incredible, like stepping straight into a postcard.
After the camel ride, we hopped back on a bus and went right up close to the Great Pyramid, where we could actually touch the stone. We took plenty of photos before moving on to the Sphinx, by which point we were all dripping with sweat in the Egyptian heat. To finish off the day, we wandered through the markets, learned the fine art of haggling, and picked up some souvenirs for family back home. Then, just like that, it was over - and before we knew it, we were on a plane, sleeping most of the way back to little old New Zealand, with a lifetime of memories packed into our bags.

Thank you everyone again for your support, and here I come America! 🇺🇸 ❤️

Hey everyone!
Apologies for the long-awaited update. Its been a whirlwind few days here with the squash, a bit of food poisoning, a much-needed rest day, and learning who i am without the internet to rely on 😅

On Monday, I played my first-round match against a tough opponent from France. I went down in four, but I was happy with how I played, definitely some positives to take away. I had a bye in the following round, so I used Monday night to rest and recover.

Next up was a seeded player from the Czech Republic (17/32). Another strong challenge, and I lost in three, but still learning and battling through each match.

Yesterday was a bit chaotic - I had no idea when (or if!) I was playing and was told to hang around all day just in case. Turned out I had another bye and wasn’t scheduled to play until this morning!

I’m on court today at 10:20am local time 🇪🇬 / 7:20pm 🇳🇿 against fellow Aussie, Hannah Slyth 🇦🇺. Feeling fired up and ready to go!

VAMOS! ❤️‍🔥

Hey everyone!

I’ve officially made it to Egypt, woohoo!! After more than a full day of travel, we finally touched down on Thursday morning. We haven’t had any Wi-Fi or internet access the past couple of days - classic Egypt! So apologies for the delayed update. It might be a bit of a recurring theme while we’re here…

So far, we’ve managed to squeeze in two practice hits, explored the massive hotel we’re staying at, and survived a few very close calls in our Ubers 😅

Today, we’re off to see the Pyramids of Giza - an absolute dream come true for me and something I’ve wanted to see my whole life. Can’t wait to share some photos with you all!

Huge thanks to everyone who’s supported me on this journey - my family and I are incredibly grateful for all your support.

Matches kick off on Monday (New Zealand is 9 hours ahead of Cairo), so keep an eye on this page - I’ll do my best to post updates and results here!

Thanks again, everyone!
VAMOS ‼️❤️‍🔥

Get ready to SQUASH it!
Hey everyone!! I’m running a one-day Junior Squash Camp Fundraiser and it’s going to be EPIC!
April 27th | 9AM–12PM | SquashGym, Palmy
Fun drills, skill-building, friendly matches, and good vibes — all for just $30 per junior!!

Whether you’re just starting out or already a squashie, this camp is for YOU!
Bring your energy, bring your mates, and let’s make it a day to remember!

Spots are limited — sign up NOW!
[email protected] | 0223901255

This is to all racketloners out there.
NZ Racketlon championships start on Saturday (Sec Schools on Friday)
More info on the poster here... Entries ONLY via email to [email protected]