A TELEVISION audience of 16 million, a live viewing of about 2 500 and a determined opponent did not deter Guyanese national champion Norman Madhoo from carrying his ‘A’ game to the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championships.
The Caribbean representative almost accomplished a feat, that of getting past the first round of the tournament for the first time, but it was Devon Petersen’s day.
The South African won the match, four legs to three, but Madhoo made him work hard for it. The former Caribbean champion said that the tournament “was pretty good, with a high standard”.
He said that after the match numerous officials from the Professional Darts Corporation told him that the showdown was highly competitive and that it was “tough luck” that he lost the “bull up” (which gave Petersen the chance to play first). The match went down to the wire since it was tied at three legs at one stage.
Madhoo, who attended the tournament in 2003-04 and in 2009, was a big hit and he was even interviewed by the Sun newspaper in the United Kingdom (with a circulation of almost three million).
He told Chronicle Sport that the reporter (from the Sun) was shocked that he was able to keep his playing level that competitive despite the country (Guyana) having only a handful of darts players. This he acknowledged as a challenge.
Madhoo also feels that if he and other local players can have more international exposure there can be better performances on the international stage.