Linda Elriani Receives ToC Women's Squash Leadership
Award
Linda
Elriani,
the former world No.3 and current Director of Squash at the Heights
Casino in Brooklyn, New York, received the 2015 ToC Women's
Squash Leadership Award during the J.P. Morgan Tournament of
Champions Women's Leadership Luncheon in Grand Central Terminal.
The luncheon was presented by the tournament's silver sponsor
Lexington Partners.
The
former English international, whose wonderful sense of humour and
delightful personality endeared her to fellow players and squash fans
worldwide, enjoyed a glittering professional playing career in squash.
During her 16-year playing career, Elriani won 15 Tour titles, reaching
32 Tour finals including the 2005 Tournament of Champions final.
She
was capped 75 times for England, including five successive World Team
Championships appearances between 1996 and 2004. Elriani captained the
England team which won the 2000 World title and also won a Commonwealth
Games bronze medal in doubles with countrywoman Fiona Geaves.
Linda now oversees all squash programming at the Heights Casino, a club
with a storied history of producing champion squash players. She also
serves as Tournament Director of the Carol Weymuller Open, a
Women's Squash Association Gold event.
In her
presentation remarks, ToC Associate Director Beth Rasin noted:
"Linda has been a leader in the world of squash
in so many ways for more than two decades. As a professional player, she
led by example as one of the hardest working players on the tour,
reaching a career-high world No.3 ranking and maintaining an unbroken
presence in the world top 10 for more than seven years.
"She
led by assuming the responsibility of Board Chair of the Women's Squash
Association for more than a decade. She is continuing to lead as
Tournament Director of The Carol Weymuller Open, ensuring that there
continues to be high quality tournaments for the current players.
"And,
perhaps most importantly, as Director of Squash at the Heights Casino,
Linda's greatest leadership gift is sharing her love of the game and
encouraging each player to find his or her own joy in the sport."
On
accepting the award, Elriani said: "I am so
grateful for all the opportunities presented to me because of my
involvement with squash. My life has been enriched in so many ways
because of it. I am excited to see the women's professional tour
continue to grow, and I want to congratulate J.P. Morgan and the
Tournament of Champions for providing prize money parity for women and
men at this year's championships."
Also
speaking at the Leadership Luncheon about the positive impact of their
involvement in squash were two representatives of the ToC's official
charities, Joetta Francis of StreetSquash and Tanesha
Jackson of CitySquash.
Pictured above (L to r) are: Joetta Francis; Beth Rasin;
Leadership Luncheon Co-Chair and WSA Board Member Ashley Bernhard;
Linda Elriani; ToC Operations Director Melissa Winstanley;
and Tanesha Jackson