Kasey Brown,
the world No19 from Australia and President of the Women's Squash
Association (WSA), has decided to retire from the WSA World
Tour after competing in next week's Delaware Investments US
Open in Philadelphia.
Brown will continue to serve on the WSA Board until the end of her
term of office.
A
WSA member for the past 12 years, 29-year-old Brown reached 24 Tour
finals and collected 11 titles including the Australian Open.
Her biggest success came at the Greenwich Open in the USA in
January 2011. Nine months later, she reached the US Open
final for the first time and went on to achieve a career-high world
No5 ranking in December 2011.
Away from the WSA Tour, Brown is a three-time Australian National
Champion and became the only squash player to win three medals in
the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi - a gold and two bronzes
- which she followed up at Glasgow 2014 with a further bronze in the
Mixed Doubles.
"I
think a player knows when it is time to retire from the tour and
I've found great satisfaction in coaching and helping others achieve
what they want out of squash," said Brown, who hails from Taree in
New South Wales but has been based in Greenwich in the USA for
several years. "I've been based oversees for a long time so it is
great to have moved back to Australia and coaching at Tonic Squash
and Gym on the Mornington Peninsula and working with Rodney
Martin - you can't beat the Australian Beach!
"My aim now is to help promote squash and encourage participation in
Australia through developing new facilities through McWil court
distribution.
"It is very much an honour to serve as President of the WSA and huge
thanks must go to Tommy Berden, Elliot Selby and the
WSA Board for all of their hard work. I know the Women's Tour is in
good hands.
"Looking back at my career, I think the biggest highlight for me is
the people that I have met and the amount of support I have
received. I wouldn't have achieved what I did without the support of
so many people and I am very grateful for that. I do want to mention
and thank my family, and Rod and Amelia Martin who supported me
every step of the way - and also my sponsors Delaware Investments
and Harrow Sports."
WSA CEO Tommy Berden said: "Retirement decisions are never
easy, even more so for such a determined and competitive
professional as Kasey. She has been highly successful on the WSA
World Tour for many years and has recently also shown her dedication
and forward thinking in her new role as WSA President.
"It doesn't come as a surprise that she has been chosen as director
of coaching of Tonic Squash and Gym in Dromana, which gives her the
opportunity to return back to Australia after a long time away from
home. We look forward to seeing Kasey compete one more time at the
US Open and are happy that she will stay on as WSA's President for
the remainder of her term."
England's world champion Laura Massaro and fellow WSA board
member added: "I was really sad to hear of Kasey's retirement. She
is a great player and someone I respect hugely. Every time I stepped
on court with her I knew what a tough match it would be. She gave
her all to her squash and I know that will continue in whatever the
future brings. I wish you the best of luck Kasey.
"It's been a privilege to have Kasey alongside me on the board. Her
organisation, commitment and passion for the game have shone through
over the last 10 months in her role as President. She always has the
best interest of women's squash at the forefront of her mind and I
can't thank her enough for the work she has done for WSA."
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