Perry Powers Into Malaysian Open Draw

Ireland's Madeline Perry powered into the women's main draw of the CIMB Malaysian Open after despatching Dutch opponent Orla Noom in today's qualifying finals of the $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold squash event in Kuala Lumpur.

Twice a quarter-finalist in the event, the former world No6 from Banbridge, near Belfast, took just 21 minutes to overcome Noom 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in the first WISPA Tour event to use 'Pro-Scoring' - ie, point-a-rally games up to 11 points (or two clear).

Perry's reward is a first round clash with fellow Briton Laura Lengthorn-Massaro, the eighth seed from England.

New Zealand's Louise Crome survived the longest qualifying battle, disappointing home hopes by beating Malaysia's Sharon Wee 11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 9-11, 11-5 in 40 minutes. The 30-year-old Aucklander now faces world champion Rachael Grinham, the third seed from Australia.

After a four-month lay-off - during which she underwent knee surgery - Tania Bailey will make her comeback at the event in which she finished as runner-up for the past two years. The fourth seed will face English compatriot Alison Waters, her successor as British National champion.

There was surprise local success in the qualifying finals of the men's 5-star PSA Tour event when KL-based Muhd Asyraf Azan battled for 86 minutes to overcome Australian Ryan Cuskelly 6-11, 11-1, 11-9, 15-17, 11-8.

Ranked 157 in the world - and a successful qualifier in the event for the fourth time since 2004 - 19-year-old Azan will face fellow countryman Ong Beng Hee, the second seed who became the event's first home champion in 2000.

Beng Hee won the title again in 2005, while third-seeded compatriot Mohd Azlan Iskandar is also a two-time champion, in 2004 and 2007. And the defending champion also takes on a fellow countryman in the opening round when he meets Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan, the Malaysian No3.

Women's qualifying finals:
Madeline Perry (IRL) bt Orla Noom (NED) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 (21m)
Lauren Briggs (ENG) bt Annelize Naude (NED) 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 (26m)
Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6 (37m)
Louise Crome (NZL) bt Sharon Wee (MAS) 11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 9-11, 11-5 (40m)

Men's qualifying finals:
Wade Johnstone (AUS) bt Yasir Butt (PAK) 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10 (54m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-3, 11-7, 14-16, 11-8 (55m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (73m)
Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 6-11, 11-1, 11-9, 15-17, 11-8 (86m)