Perry happy with home advantage

Madeline Perry will have home support in the World Open

World number eight Madeline Perry says the staging of the 2006 Women's World Championship in Belfast will be a huge boost to squash in Ireland.

"Ever since Belfast was chosen, everybody has been talking about it," said Perry, from County Down.

"It will be great to play in front of home support and I hope it inspires me to have a good World Open."

A glass-walled court will be erected in Belfast's Ulster Hall for the later stages of the 20-26 November event.

The first round will be played at the nearby Boat Club complex.

"The girls on the WISPA Tour are asking loads of questions about Belfast as there has not been top squash here for a long time and they are all excited about visiting the city," added 29-year-old Perry, a surprise quarter-finalist in last year's World Open in Hong Kong.

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

Malaysian Nicol David's victory in the 2005 championship led her to becoming the first Asian world number one.