[Pictured above (L to R) are Gar Holohan, Huang Ying How, Jacques Fontaine and Pablo Serna (absent isSarah 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; EgyptianMohamed 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.
