Squash: Kitchen named most improved

New Zealander Shelley Kitchen has been named the most improved women's player of the year at the world squash awards.

Kitchen, who beat world No 1 Nicol David in the second round of the World Open in Madrid, also won four titles and reached four other quarter-final berths in senior tour events. She reached a career high of ninth in the world rankings.

Kitchen was also a finalist in the women's player of the year category, which was won by David. Amr Shabana of Egypt won the men's award.