I'm still playing catch-up with items DDN readers have sent me from months ago and
I am pleased to say that, at last, I am able to report about the growing fever for darts
in Mongolia. A press cutting relating to the subject
2013 came to me via Dr. Eddie Norman in April this year. It's from The Guardian dated 26th October.
In a country better known for
sports such as wrestling, riding and
archery, it seems that darts is
taking the country by storm with
already 2,000 sports men and
women 'converted' to darts. The
first Premier League darts
tournament took place on 6th June
2013, co-organised by the British
Embassy in Ulaanbaatar and the
Mongolian Darts Federation when
the top ten players from 300
entries competed in a round-robin
format.
2013 was the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
Mongolia and the United Kingdom and, believe it or not, the 20th anniversary of the
foundation of the Darts Federation in Mongolia. Erdene Mandakh, President of the
Mongolian Amateur Darts Federation told The Guardian, "When we began entering
darts competitions people would say, "How can you guys play? We thought you lived
in gers [felt tents] and rode horses; do you even have any buildings? Now they have
stopped asking; they just see us as competitors. But this is only a start."
Twice national women's champion, 49-year-old Baatar Tsend, tried darts once and
became hooked. She said, "There is nothing bad about darts. I am in love with darts."
Smitten? I should say so. On one occasion she continued to play even though a nearby
stove had set her fur coat on fire! Baatar added, "Since ancient times our people have
been practising archery.They've got great aim, so maybe this is in our genes or
something: our special Mongolian genes."
President Erdene Mandakh said, "Of course our dream is to play against English
people and beat them. Our dream is to become world champions." Nearly one year
since that article appeared, I wonder how much more the sport of darts has grown in
Mongolia.
I wish the committee and players of the Mongolian Amateur Darts Federation every
success and hope to see their representative at the Ally Pally or Lakeside sometime
soon.
Dr. Darts' Newsletter - Issue 51 - August 2014