Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Darts star ready to battle doubters

By Chris Charles

Anastasia Dobromyslova has chosen the song to walk out to as she makes her debut in the PDC World Championship, determined to show she's more than just a pretty face.

The petite Russian faces Dutchman Remco van Eijden in the preliminary round and she told BBC Sport: "I'm feeling pretty confident, I think I'll make progress.

"I'm sure some people won't like it that I'm playing, but I'm doing my job and I don't care what they think. I got an invitation to play in the World Championship and I accepted because I want to earn a living from darts and make some good money."

Dobromyslova, 24, was catapulted to stardom at the beginning of the year when she stunned perennial champion Trina Gulliver to claim the Women's World Darts title live on the BBC.

ANASTASIA'S ODDS PDC World Champion: 1000/1 180 with opening 3 darts: 25/1 Nine dart finish: 1000/1 Reach first round: 9/4 Odds supplied by Ladbrokes

Since then she has played in a couple of men's tournaments and was within a whisker of knocking out fans' favourite Wayne Mardle in the Grand Slam of Darts tournament last month.

Dobromyslova eventually lost 5-4 after coming from 4-0 down, prompting Mardle - dubbed "Hawaii 501" - to quip: "If I had lost that I would have emigrated to Las Vegas."

Not all of her fellow-pros hold the same opinion. Dobromyslova - nickname "From Russia With Love" - has been practising with world number one Phil Taylor, who insists: "Anastasia is a breath of fresh air.

"She's a good little player and a great prospect - if she gets her practice game together on the main board then everyone should watch out."

It would have been unthinkable for a woman to muscle in on the men's turf in the heady days of the 1970s and 80s, when beer bellies, tattoos and hard-drinking were practically the law - prompting comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News to do a darts sketch where the doubles and trebles were of the spirit variety.

But Taylor, who has lost more than four stone on a fitness regime as he bids for his 14th world crown, acknowledges the times are changing.

"It's not like the old days when women were cooking and cleaning - and rightly so," he said. "But it is going to be tough for her because the pressure is immense. She's been thrown into the deep end with all the sharks.

"She might shock a few people but I don't think she's going to win the title this year - because I am!"

Jocky Wilson was one of the sport's prominent figures in the 1980s

Dobromyslova, who first took up the sport at youth club, concedes that she has a way to go before she can become a serious challenger.

"I could be world champion, although I don't think it will be for a few years," she said.

"But all I want to do is play darts - that is my main focus.

"I like to wear make-up and nice clothes like any woman but I would never quit my career to do modelling work if it was offered."

For now all her energy is directed on Sunday's match, with the winner facing Tony Eccles in round one. No prizes for guessing who he'll be rooting for.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version