The Cambridge squash player Joelle King's bid for a fifth straight title at the New Zealand National Championships has come up short due to injury.
NZ squash player Joelle King Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The world number four had taken the first game 11-9 against second seed Megan Craig in the final, but suffered a serious achilles injury in the second game and could not continue.
It is a major blow for King, who was due to fly out for the Hong Kong Open at the conclusion of the singles event.
It is unclear how long the injury will prevent her from getting back onto the WSA World Tour.
King will see a surgeon next week to ascertain the extent of the damage.
The injury hands the fast improving Megan Craig her first National title, although it is not the way the young Cantabrian would have been hoping to have won.
Meanwhile, Martin Knight has defended the men's title with a 3-1 win over long-time rival Campbell Grayson.
It is the fourth year in a row the pair have met in the title decider and both were chasing their third success at the event.
It was Knight who justified his top seeding with an 11-6 11-5 10-12 12-10 victory.
