Leilani Rorani

Leilani Rorani MNZM (formerly Joyce, née Marsh; born 15 April 1974) is a New Zealand former squash player. During her professional career, she reached the world number 1 ranking, won the British Open in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001.

Leilani Rorani
MNZM
Born (1974-04-15) 15 April 1974
Hamilton, New Zealand
RetiredSeptember 2002
PlaysRight-Handed
Coached byRob Wyatt
Racquet usedUnsquashable
Women's Singles
Highest ranking1 (November 2000)
Title(s)13
Tour final(s)25
World OpenRU (2000, 2001)
Medal record
Women's squash
Representing  New Zealand
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2000 EdinburghSingles
Silver medal – second place2001 MelbourneSingles
Bronze medal – third place1999 SeattleSingles
World Games
Bronze medal – third place1997 LahtiSingles
World Team Championships
Bronze medal – third place1998 StuttgartTeam
Bronze medal – third place2000 SheffieldTeam
World Doubles Championships
Gold medal – first place1997 Hong KongDoubles
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2002 ManchesterDoubles
Gold medal – first place2002 ManchesterMixed doubles

Early life and family

Born Leilani Marsh in Hamilton on 15 April 1974, Rorani is the daughter of Neal Marsh and Maise Marsh (née Reihana).[1] Of Māori descent, she affiliates to Ngāti Hine, Ngāi Te Rangi, and the Tainui confederation.[1] She was educated at Church College of New Zealand, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[1] She married Paul Joyce, but the couple later divorced.[2][3][4] In 2002, she married Blair Rorani in the Hamilton New Zealand Temple. They have four children.[5]

Squash career

In the early part of her career she was known as Leilani Marsh and competed in the 1996 World Open as the number 14 seed under that name. Following her first marriage, she competed as Leilani Joyce, and then was known as Leilani Rorani in the latter stages of her career.

As a junior player, Rorani won the New Zealand under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19 championships, the Australian under-17 and under-19 championship, and the Oceania under-19 championship.

During her 12-year career on the international tour, Rorani won 16 WISPA titles. She also won four New Zealand national titles. She was named Māori Sportsperson of the Year twice, and New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year in 2000.[1]

Rorani retired from the professional tour in 2002, after winning gold medals in both the women's doubles and mixed doubles at the Commonwealth Games.[6]

Honours

In 1990, she was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[7] In the 2001 New Year Honours, Rorani was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to squash.[8]

See also

References
  1. Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. ISSN 1172-9813.
  2. Kayes, Jim (13 September 1997). "Joyce emerges out of Devoy's shadow". Waikato Times. p. 10.
  3. "Leilani Joyce: steps to a champion". Squashplayer.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. "Leilani Rorani". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. "Bernice Mene and Leilani Rorani: breastfeeding champions". New Zealand Woman's Weekly. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  6. "Leilani Retires". Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  7. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 243. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  8. "New Year honours list 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2000. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
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