Darts Star Rabadia Targeting Titles in 2012 Season in F1

www.easterneye.eu • December 23, 2011 Sport 37 Joy and pain for Nehwal SAINA NEHWAL created Indian badminton history in Liu Zhou, China, last weekend, but still ended up empty handed after losing in her first BWF Super Series Final. The badminton star became the first Indian woman to reach the final of a Super Se- ries singles event in her three set defeat to world champion Wang Yihan on Sunday (18). Nehwal, who hadn’t beaten the home favourite in their three previous meetings, won the first game but couldn’t fin- ish the job, losing 18-21, 21-13, 21-13 in just over an hour and 10 minutes. The world number four became the first Indian to play in a Super Series final since mixed doubles pair Jwala Gutta and V Diju, who lost to Christinna Pedersen and Joaquim Nielsen back in 2009. Nehwal has struggled this year to regain the form that won her six major titles in 2010, but will gain comfort from the fact she beat four of the world’s top eight players on the way to the final. Sutil leaves Rohit gets ready to Force India ADRIAN SUTIL has been dropped by Force India for the new Formula One season and will be replaced by their re- serve driver Nico Hulkenberg. The German racer, who had been with the Subrata Roy-Vi- jay Mallya co-owned outfit for four years, is now expected to switch allegiances to Williams ‘Rock It’ on the oche in 2012. Hulkenberg will partner Paul di Resta in a new look line-up after the Scot retained his place after a successful first DARTS STAR RABADIA TARGETING TITLES IN 2012 season in F1. “Darts has really blown up of late,” “After a while, I felt so comfortable and trabadia.com). Another major sponsor “I think Paul caught the eye Rabadia explained. “It has now become a confident with my darts that my wife would be perfect so I can do the entire of everybody in the pitlane EXCLUSIVE household name; the past few years have urged me to take it to the next level. So I circuit (next year). during his rookie season,” been just phenomenal. The sport is get- signed up to the BDO and travelled to “Until then, I am restricted to how Mallya said. by RONNIE RUFF ting huge backing from sponsors and TV their events up and down the country. many events I can do. If I can get the “His speed, maturity and channels, and the competitions are get- Then towards the end of 2009, I started backing, I am confident I can compete racecraft confirmed that we BACK in the 1980s and 1990s, the ting bigger and tougher. playing on the European WDF circuit.” with the big boys.” were right to believe in him. ‘sport’ of darts was more known “It means a lot to me to be the first Every Christmas and new year, the Rohit said he wants to inspire more We look forward to working for its ‘pub’ culture of beer bellies, Asian player on the circuit. I want to be PDC and BDO stage their respective young Asians to get involved in the sport with him again next year. drinking and smoking than dedica- the one who sets the trend. world championships, with Alexander as there is potentially big money to be “As for Nico, we identified tion and professionalism. “Getting my first ranking points on the Palace and Lakeside the iconic venues. made, but are there any more out there him as a rising star at the end Fast forward to 2011 and the art of WDF circuit was the best feeling ever. I Rabadia hoped he’ll be the one step- coming through the system? “Not that I of 2010. throwing three arrows into a board has don’t think any of the trophies I have ping out ‘onto the oche’ in front of a TV have seen,” Rabadia said. “Despite having only limited quickly transformed into one of Britain’s won come anywhere near.” audience sooner rather than later. “I think it still comes down to the fact time in the car, he convinced most popular night-outs thanks to famil- Rabadia first began playing darts with He said: “My darts come first and my that Asian parents still think like the us that he deserved a race seat iar names like Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor his brother at 15, when his parents bought job comes second. I’m committed and olden days, where they want their kids to for 2012.” and Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis. him his first board after ‘nagging them’ want to become the first Asian to hit the study and the fact the sport is still associ- Hulkenberg, who made his Barry Hearns and Sky TV’s Profession- for it after watching BDO legends Eric Lakeside stage. There are lots of ups and ated as being a pub sport. I know a few in F1 debut with Williams in al Darts Corporation (PDC) darting revo- Bristow and Jockey Wilson on the BBC. downs and it costs a lot of money to get the local leagues and I am always trying 2010, said: “I’m obviously de- lution has led to sell-out arenas, record He continued to hone his skills at the to all these events. to urge them to join me on my tours. lighted. It wasn’t easy to watch viewing figures and million pound tour- Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Golders “There are a lot of sacrifices. I spend a “I hope more Asian darts players do from the sidelines, but I did naments – but despite its crossover into Green and won his first tournament lot of weekends away from home and my follow because there is always a future if my best to help the team and the mainstream, the sport has still yet to there a year later. But just when Rabadia little boy. The dream is to get to the tele- your hearts set on it. I want to see more show what I was capable of. unearth its first Asian star. thought he had found a career path, he vised stages of events, I believe I am ca- on the circuit. There are great players out “I am extremely motivated That though may be all set to change if was forced to give up the game for that pable of doing it and that the hard work there who just need that push to do it.” for 2012 and would like to Rohit ‘Rock It’ Rabadia has his way. The age old Asian priority – education. and practise will pay off one day. Rabadia also likes to do his bit for good thank everyone for believing 31-year-old from Hendon in London is “I gave up darts when I started college “At present, I get to practice for a few causes and recently organised a 24-hour in me and giving me this making waves on the rival British Darts as my parents wanted me to concentrate hours everyday regardless of what time darts marathon to raise money for two chance. The first test in Jerez Organisation (BDO) and World Darts on my studies, as all Asian parents do,” of the day it is, I think in any sport, no cancer charities. “I continuously played can’t come soon enough!” Federation (WDF) circuits and could be Rabadia recalled. “After that, I didn’t pick matter how many hours you put in, it’s darts around the clock for 24 hours along Mallya went on to thank Su- set to break the mould. up a dart again for eleven years.” never enough. The more you do, the bet- with a few friends,” he explained. til for his contribution: “Our Rabadia recently made his mark by But luckily for him, that wasn’t the end ter you will be.” “I had Dean Winstanley, who was BDO new line-up means we have to collecting his first WDF ranking points of the story. “In 2007, I got my board back Rabadia added: “I am lucky to have the world number one at the time, and say goodbye to Adrian Sutil. after reaching the last 32 at the Latvian up and started throwing again, and the sponsors that I have (Cricklewood Tim- Stephen Bunting come down for an exhi- “He has been an integral Open and hopes to continue that form touch was still there. After winning a few bers, RedDragon Darts and NSC Media) bition too. We also had raffles, competi- part of our success over the into the New Year and beyond and be- more titles at the temple, I signed up to as they help with some of the costs, tions and an auction. Currently, we have past four seasons and we wish come a trailblazer for wannabe Asians. some local leagues,” Rabadia said. equipment and my website (www.rohi raised just over £4,000.” him well for the future.”.

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