|
 |
|
Women's World Open NEWS |
22-Feb-06:
Belfast To Host Richest
Women's World Open
The 2006 Women's World Open Squash Championship will be
staged in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 20-26 November
following an agreement reached between the World Squash
Federation and Irish Squash.
The championship will be hosted by Irish Squash, in conjunction with
Ulster Squash, and its partners the Sports Council for Northern
Ireland, Northern Ireland Events Company and Belfast City Council.
The premier event on the WISPA World Tour will boast the biggest
prize fund in the event's history. After early rounds at the Belfast
Boat Club, the competition will move to the city's historic
Ulster
Hall from the last sixteen round onwards. The total prize fund will
be $112,500.
The event will feature all of the top women players, including the
reigning world champion Nicol David of Malaysia who will defend the title
she won for the first time in the 2005 championship in Hong Kong.
The final stages of the 2006 event will be played on an all-glass
championship court that will be erected in Belfast’s Ulster Hall,
giving spectators a chance to view matches from every angle.
One local player sure to benefit is Madeline Perry from
Banbridge. The Irish No1 reached the quarter-finals of the 2005
world championships, beating England's world No7 Jenny Duncalf
before succumbing to Rachael Grinham, the top seed from
Australia.
LOCAL REACTION ...
Lord Browne of Belmont, former Lord Mayor of Belfast, said:
“Squash officials did visit Belfast before the decision was made and
I know that they were very impressed by our proposed venues,
including the Ulster Hall. It was also significant that they were
met by representatives from all the key stakeholders; they left our
City confident in the knowledge that Belfast was already preparing
for the Championships.”
Mervyn Elder, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Events
Company, said: "I’m delighted that the Events Company has played a
role in bringing the first Women’s World Squash event to Northern
Ireland. Securing this event reinforces our position as a
world-class destination for major events and will give a tremendous
boost to our profile through extensive worldwide television
coverage."
Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of the Sports Council
for Northern Ireland, added: “The Sports Council for Northern
Ireland is delighted to be associated with bringing the first
Women’s World Squash event to Northern Ireland. This tournament can
only improve the standard of our competitors with some of the best
players in the world attending. The championships provide us with
the chance to enhance the profile of the sport here in Northern
Ireland.”
Angus Kirkland of Irish Squash and Derek Brown,
President of Ulster Squash, stated: "The Women’s World Open coming
to Ireland is a tremendous boon for the sport of squash. We are
indebted to our partners for their support and look forward to
hosting a spectacular squash event.”
|
|
|
"From the very beginning of the negotiations in early
2005, we have been impressed with the city's determination to bring
this event to Belfast and its preparedness. 
"WISPA is thrilled that the
leading women's event will be held this year Belfast - and with the
biggest ever World Open prize fund. 