A local pickleball player played her way to the podium recently.
Champs gathered in Abbotsford July 6 for the Pickleball Canada National Open Championships, where Salmon Arm’s Shirley Knorr won a silver medal in 55+ ladies doubles.
She and her partner, Diane Gillis from Kamloops, had only practised together once but made a good team nonetheless.
The two won four of their six games to take silver. They have competed against each other in smaller local tournaments throughout the year.
“We paired up very well,” said Knorr. “She was an awesome person to play with.”
Knorr only started playing pickleball in September after learning it was a popular choice for tennis lovers. She is a tennis player herself and decided to take up the new sport.
Pickleball is a combination of ping-pong, tennis and badminton and is touted as one of the fastest growing sports in North America.
This was Knorr’s first major tournament, which drew players from Florida and Alaska as well as from across Canada.
“It was exciting,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect at first but your nerves calm down as the day goes on.”
The tournament was well put together and thoroughly enjoyed, Knorr said.
She also managed to score raffle prizes and a national pickleball T-shirt to go with her silver medal.
Knorr and her partner will play again at the BC Senior Games held in Kamloops Aug. 20 to 24.
