“I also spent two months in Palmerston North with my sister Holly, who was a national under-17 squash champion, and her husband Kashif Shuja (a former Pakistan and New Zealand representative and winner of 11 Professional Squash Association titles). I’ve had great support from my teachers and career officers. When I was not at school I studied online, but I’m moving permanently to try to become a top professional.
“SquashXL has been great. All my living expenses are paid for by my sponsor John Duggan (SquashXL founder), who is a personal trainer, and my coach is Lance Beddoes, a two-time Commonwealth Games squash representative.
“Kashif, who is the New Zealand director for Swedish sports brand Salming Sports, also sponsors me.
“We train (at SquashXL) from 10am to 12, then break for lunch, then it’s back on the courts for racquet technique, games and coaching.”
Donnelly, who has Ngati Porou and Rongowhakaata affiliations, plays for Surf City Squash Club in Gisborne, where he started playing at just five years of age.
“It seems like I’ve been around the squash courts all my life. It is a real family affair — Dad (William), Mum (Fleur Paenga), my two older brothers and two older sisters were all into squash. All my spare time was spent at the courts.
“I remember going to Rarotonga when I was five with my family for a tournament and winning my division.
“I love everything about the sport. It’s fast, requires good skills, hand-to-eye co-ordination, technique, speed and stamina.
“While I’m in Auckland I’’ll get the chance to train with New Zealand No.1 player Paul Coll (ranked eighth in the world.)
“Paul, who won a silver medal in the singles at this year’s Commonwealth Games and bronze in the mixed doubles with Joelle King, is based in The Netherlands. He is coming back to New Zealand to train and play exhibition games.
“It’s going to be great to learn from him.”
Donnelly, who is also a qualified squash coach and lost 14 kilograms this year to improve his agility, said that while the ultimate goal was top 10, his immediate goal was to make the New Zealand squad for the junior world champs in Malaysia in July.
“If I can make that, the next step would be the national team to compete at the world singles and doubles champs next year.
“Professional squash players travel to a lot of tournaments around the world and play all year round,” he said.
“The top 100 to 150 are not struggling financially. The next bracket is top 50, who make good money, then there’s top 10, where you get serious money and sponsorship deals.”
So what happens if he does not make the big time?
“I’ve already had discussions with my family and career advisers, which is one of the reasons I qualified as a coach. If I don’t make it as a professional, or get injured, I can still coach. In Auckland alone there is a lot of coaching work.”
His coaching and playing potential was recognised at the 2018 Squash Eastern Annual Awards.
He won the overall sportsperson, junior sportsman and new coach categories while Gisborne HSOB’s Audine Grace-Kutia received an award for services to squash and Surf City’s Kahn Grayson was named most improved junior boy.
