Darts Surging in Asia: A Global Phenomenon in the Making
In the world of darts, the year 2024 has witnessed an unprecedented global impact, with Asia emerging as a thriving hub for the sport. The quality of darts in the Far East has been on a steady rise in recent years, and the stage is now set for a breakthrough PDC star to emerge from the region.
Promising Asian Players Make Their Mark
At the most recent World Darts Championship, promising players like Man Lok Leung and Tomoya Goto made their mark, securing first-round wins over seasoned competitors Gian van Veen and Ian White, respectively. This trend continued at the 2024 World Cup of Darts, where nations such as Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Singapore, and Hong Kong showcased their growing prowess.
The Rise of Asian Darts
As Russ Bray, the iconic PDC referee and the ‘Voice of Darts,’ noted in a conversation with Sky Sports, “The standard is getting bigger and better” since the inception of the PDC Asian Tour in 2018. He believes that with the sheer size of the Asian market, it’s only a matter of time before a new generation of darts superstars, akin to Phil Taylor and Luke Littler, emerges from the region.
The Darting Legend from Asia
The undisputed darting legend from Asia is Paul Lim, who made history at the Lakeside in 1990 by achieving the first-ever nine-darter in the tournament’s history. Now in his 70s, Lim remains a formidable player, as showcased by his performances at the 2024 World Cup of Darts for Singapore.
Challenges Faced by Asian Players
While the Philippines’ Christian Perez currently holds a Tour Card, the majority of the top Asian players continue to compete primarily on the PDC Asian Tour. As Perez explains, “I have difficulty winning on the Asian Tour because of the depth there. It is very tough. It is very hard to win over there.”
The Future of Darts in Asia
The growth of darts in Asia is undeniable, and the region is poised to make an even more significant impact on the global darts scene in the years to come. With the right opportunities and development, the next generation of Asian darts stars could very well emerge to challenge the world’s best.
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