SQUASH - On the way up

Mangakahia teenager Sacha Pou-Tito lives, breathes and eats squash and her national ranking is beginning to rise as a consequence of her dedication.
"I want to be a top player, get sponsored and be able to go to a lot of tournaments," she said.
The 13 year-old will turn 14 this month and will have her ranking upgraded from D Grade to C Grade as a birthday present.
She currently goes to as many tournaments as her parents can get her to, knowing that top competition is the quickest way to improve.
She was third at a tournament in Browns Bay over the weekend, and will line up at another this weekend in Henderson. The more important tournaments however are getting closer.
"We fly down for the South Island championships on July 1 and then we come back, for a day before going down to Tauranga for the North Island national competition," she said.
The competitions are graded but are also divided by age - and Pou-Tito is hoping to do well in the under-15s.
The current under-15 No.1 is Aucklander Paige Benioni, who with the New Zealand junior team, including Northlander Connor Matson, has been attending the Australian national junior championships over the Easter break.
"But Paige should be moving up to the under-17s this year, so that leaves a space (for me to fill) hopefully," Sacha said.
Pou-Tito has two coaches Peter Langford and Martin Knight and is never too busy to train - she has definite goals and wants to be like her hero Shelley Kitchen and become a professional player, some day.