NEIL SMITH and his youngest daughter Katy will be competing on the world stage next week.

The 2013 English men’s national indoor singles championship runner-up and his 17-year-old daughter have qualified for the world pairs event that commences at Potters Leisure Resort, Norfolk on Friday, January 9.

The Smiths qualified for Potters and the world pairs when winning the English qualifier staged at Bournemouth in early October.

Neil Smith has played at Potters before in the world championships in 2008 and 2012 but it is a new experience for Katy.

Dad Neil said: I am so chuffed for Katy as it is a big day for her but she deserves it as she was brilliant at Bournemouth in the qualifiers.

“I am quietly confident we can do well at Potters, but you obviously will need some luck along the way.”

Meanwhile, Lucy Smith, 19, won the battle of the Smiths in the semi-finals of the Area 10 national indoor singles championship at Westlecot.

She beat her younger sister Katy 21-18 to book a place in the area final against Jennie Cole (Leominster).

Lucy is also through to the ladies Area 10 pairs championship final with Katy and have to face Maryann Pye and her partner from MidGlos.

Westlecot’s players Julia Hunt, Wendy Anderson, Linda Perfitt and Jenny Vowles are all included in the Wiltshire side tomorrow to face Devon at North Wilts (Chippenham) in the quarter-finals of the Atherley Trophy.

The Wessex League swings back into action tomorrow (Sunday) with a full set of fixtures and all ten clubs in the east region competing.

Swindon Manor face a tough game as they are due to face unbeaten West Berks (Newbury) who head the table and are on course to claim a top two spot and an automatic place in the end of season play-offs for the overall Wessex League title.

Westlecot on the other hand meet Rivermead (Reading) who lie ninth in the table just one place above Swindon Manor.

January is a busy month for the east section with fixtures scheduled for three different Sundays.