Women's World Open NEWS

The biggest squash championship ever to be held in Northern Ireland will take place in Belfast next month.

The 2006 Women's World Open Championship will be staged on a state-of-the-art four glass-walled court, erected in the auditorium of the Ulster Hall.

Boasting a record £61,000 prize fund, the 2006 Women's World Open will get underway at the Belfast Boat Club on Monday 20th November before moving to the city's historic Ulster Hall from the second round onwards, leading to the final on Sunday 26th November.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Pat McCarthy, welcomed Irish squash star Madeline Perry - the world number eight and seven-times Irish champion from Banbridge - to the Ulster Hall today to launch the staging of the world's most prestigious women's event in Belfast.
 

"Ever since the World Open was announced as coming to Belfast, everybody has been talking about it. "The girls on the WISPA Tour are asking loads of questions about Belfast as there hasn't been top squash here for a long time and they are all very excited about visiting the city." "It will be a real boost for squash in Ireland and I hope there will be big crowds coming to watch. "For me, it will be great to play in front of home support and I hope it inspires me to have a great World Open. "The City has done a fantastic job bringing the Worlds to Ulster and I can hardly wait for it to start!" Madeline discusses the facilities at the Ulster Hall with (from left) Mervyn Elder of the Northern Ireland Events Company, Eric Saunders of the Sports Council, Derek Brown of Ulster Squash and Eamonn McCartan of the Sports Council.

The championship will be hosted by Irish Squash, in conjunction with Ulster Squash and its partners the Belfast City Council, Sports Council for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Events Company – and follows an agreement reached between Irish Squash and the World Squash Federation (WSF).

The 2006 Women's World Open will attract all of the world's top women players, from countries such as Malaysia, Australia, Netherlands, England, Egypt, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, France and Scotland.

Malaysia's Nicol David, whose victory in the 2005 championships led her to becoming the first ever Asian world number one, is also looking forward to competing in next month's event at Ulster Hall.

"The World Open this year is going to be incredibly exciting for me. "This will be the first time I have the chance to visit Belfast and I'm really looking forward to playing the World Open in a new city. "It's wonderful that Belfast has come in to host this prestigious event. "All of us will be gearing up to put on a great show and hoping that the Irish supporters will come to cheer us on throughout the tournament. "The competition is going to be a tough one all the way because everyone wants the crown that I managed to win last year. "It's definitely something to look forward to in November. Thanks a million, Belfast!"

 

"We are delighted to be involved in the Women’s World Open Squash Championships Belfast 2006. At the Sports Council we are committed to our three strategic aims of increasing participation, striving for excellence and promoting the good reputation of sport. "We are therefore delighted that a world class event will take place in Belfast as it is a major component of promoting Northern Ireland. "This event will help raise the international profile of Northern Ireland by attracting world-class athletes, benefiting our local athletes, our local sports systems and the social, economic and political infrastructure." Sports Council for Northern Ireland

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