Jacques Fontaine Succeeds N. Ramachandran as World Squash Federation President by Howard Harding
Pictured above (L to R) are Gar Holohan, Huang Ying How, Jacques
Fontaine and Pablo Serna (absent is Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who was unable
to attend the meeting in Hong Kong)
9 November 2016 -
Today's Annual General Meeting of the World Squash Federation elected a
new President to succeed N. Ramachandran following the completion of
the Indian's second and final four-year term.
Jacques Fontaine becomes the Federation's ninth President since the
WSF's inception in 1967 - the first Frenchman and third European - and
was elected by delegates representing a record-breaking 59 National
Federations attending the 46th WSF AGM in Hong Kong.
"My intention will be to work with a new governance model based on
integrity, transparency and team spirit," said Fontaine after his
victory. "The WSF needs to establish a defined agreement with the
professional section of our discipline, the PSA.
"The Olympic agenda remains a priority, along with increasing the
profile of our sport worldwide and supporting grassroots development,"
added the new President. "Collaboration of all Member Nations is a
must."
Also elected at the meeting were four new Vice Presidents: Pablo Serna,
President of the Colombian Federation; Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the five-time
World Champion and current World Over-45 Champion from Australia; Gar
Holohan, President of the Irish Federation; and Huang Ying How,
President of the Malaysian Federation.
"They bring a tremendous skill set, global representation and an
unparalleled commitment," said President Fontaine, delighted by the
candidates on his newly-elected board. "I am confident this will be the
beginning of a new era for squash."
[Pictured above (L to R) are Gar Holohan, Huang Ying How, Jacques
Fontaine and Pablo Serna (absent is Sarah Fitz-Gerald, who was unable
to attend the meeting in Hong Kong)]
Fontaine, President of the French Squash Federation and European
Regional Vice President as well as being a Board Member of the French
National Olympic Committee, was elected ahead of three other candidates
- Natalie Grainger, a former world number one from the USA who recently
won the World Over-35 title; Egyptian Mohamed El Menshawy, a WSF Vice
President for six years; and Zena Wooldridge, President of the European
Squash Federation, from England.
The outgoing President was characterised by his efforts to secure a
place for squash on the Olympic Games 2020 Programme - a bid which was
ultimately unsuccessful.
"I want to say what an honour I feel in my heart to have had the
opportunity to serve our Member Nations and the sport for the last
eight years as your President," said Ramachandran, from Chennai, who
became WSF President in 2008, having previously been President of the
Asian Regional Federation.
"I have had the privilege of not only having good teams behind me, but
so much support from so many people generally. I leave feeling that I
have taken WSF forward."
The meeting also unanimously approved the application of Tahiti as the newest WSF member.
The incoming Board was delighted that squash legend Jahangir Khan
agreed to serve a further term as Emeritus President of the WSF.
