-National darts champion Norman Madhoo is gearing up for a shot at this year’s World c/ships

National darts champion Norman Madhoo is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for two upcoming important engagements.

National men’s singles darts champion Norman Madhoo has his eyes on qualifying for the World Darts Championships.

The former Caribbean darts men’s singles champion recently began training for the National Darts Championship as well as the Annual Bryden-sponsored South American Championships in Barbados.

Speaking exclusively to Stabroek Sport, Madhoo said that since last Friday the Guyana Darts Association had been holding “Luck of the Draw” tournaments.

These tournaments, he said, are contested in doubles format where seasoned players are drawn with amateurs.

At last Friday’s tournament held at Vijay Tech Stationery in Better Hope, Madhoo and his lesser known partner Max Rambharose, lost in the final to Vidya Mattie and Sudesh Fitzgerald.

Rambharose, according to Madhoo, is the younger brother of the more accomplished Len Rambharose.

The tournament saw the winners walking away with $7,000 and the runners-up with $3,000.

Madhoo added that tonight a second such competition would be held and “bull’s eye” time is 19:00 hours.

This tournament will follow the same “Luck of the Draw” format and will be done in a “blind draw” format (where seeding does not matter).

Madhoo said that he was hoping to see more juniors and persons who are interested in the sport taking part.

This second tournament is being held at Granny’s Sports Bar, at Better Hope and the new location and the staging of the tournament there has the sole aim of attracting new players to the game.

Friday’s tournament though, is expected to attract a large group of players as it will be held at the popular Salt Air Club at Le Meridien Pegasus. This tournament is being sponsored by Mr. C. Harrison and play starts at 19:00 hours.

Meanwhile, the national championships, which is expected to be held late October, early November is expected to attract the cream of darts players in Guyana in men’s and  women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles and triples and a four-member team event.

John Fernandes Ltd. and Dr. Terrence Joseph have already given their commitment to help sponsor this tournament.

Madhoo added that at present he was trying to get as much practice as possible as he was looking to emulate his 2004 performance when he made it to the World Darts Championship (WDC).

The South American and Caribbean Championships to be held in Barbados on November 13 will see Madhoo looking to surpass his 2004 results since the Barbados event serves as a qualifying event for the World’s.

He is also hoping to reach further in the WDC than before.

Meanwhile, following up on Guyana’s performance at the recent 17th Caribbean Darts Championships in Trinidad and Tobago on August 4, Madhoo said he would be seeking to extract revenge for that loss where he was dethroned as Caribbean Men’s Singles Champion.

He added that he was hoping that a better equipped and in-form squad would be selected for the Annual Bryden’s Championships as this, is the “Big one”.