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Let’s play darts!

The first professional Asian darts playeris hoping to encourage more Asians tofollow him into the sport.Rohit ‘Rock It’ Rabadia, 30, is the first

Asian to play on the full British DartsOrganisation (BDO) circuit and his passionfor the sport started after watching a gamebetween to darting greats.“I watched a game between Eric Bristow

and Jocky Wilson in 1989 and instantlybecame a fan of darts,” said Rohit.“I first started throwing darts at the age

of 15 when my parents bought me adartboard. I attend Swaminarayan Temple,Golders Green and they hold annual sportstournaments. I took part in my first dartstournament at the age of 16 in 1996. Thirteen years later, Rohit achieved

professional status and took his hobby tothe next level by joining the BDO.Rohit, whose wife gave him his nickname

‘Rock It’ because he throws his darts like arocket, does admit that in the beginning itwas quite nerve-racking being the onlyAsian player.“I was very nervous, I didn’t know how

other players would react when I competedagainst them, let alone win against them.Acceptance in the sport played a lot on mymind, especially when entering most venuesand seeing that I was the only non-English

The first professionalAsian darts player onthe full BDO circuit

player. “But I must say now, I was

accepted and many of theprofessionals are now very goodfriends of mine. I would like tothank the current BDO WorldChampion Martin Adams for allthe help and advice he has beengiving me.”With darts being primarily

played in pubs, it is believed thatbecause of this that some Asianshave been put off the sport. Rohit said: “Historically

people only went to pubs todrink alcohol. Nowadays peoplego to socialise. Pubs havechanged into restaurant andbars. With the introduction ofthe smoking ban, things havechanged dramatically. “Darts will probably be played

at pubs for the foreseeablefuture as funding at grass roots

is very low. If Asians want toplay darts competitively thenthey have to start by entering apub league and then join the fullBDO circuit. “But darts has never been this

popular with both Sky Sportsand the BBC providing excellentcoverage of the BDO and PDC(Professional DartsCorporation) and this willchange people’s perceptions.”Rohit has played matches

against some of worlds top dartplayers but admits that DavePrins, who featured in this yearsBDO World Championship, hasbeen his toughest opponent.“To date I have played three

world professionals in DavePrins, John Henderson and PaulCarter. I would have to say thatDave Prins was the best player Ihave played against and even

though I threw the best darts inmy career, I still lost.”This year Rohit is aiming to

play in more tournamentsabroad and hopes to break intothe last 32 for world rankingpoints to enable him to qualifyfor the televised World Mastersand Lakeside 2012. “Currently I am supported by

NSC Media, Chandni Caterersand Cricklewood Timbers,however I do need to getanother sponsor on board tohelp fund the costs of playing inEurope. My long term ambitionis to get more Asiansparticipating in the sport and tobecome World Champion.“As well as playing darts I

want to help youngsters and getthem playing. Success will surelyfollow as the passion for thegame is there.”

By Simon Hamalienkosimon@asianexpress.co.uk

AE PROFESSIONAL: Rohit ‘Rock It’Rabadia with the third best in the world‘The Machine’ James Wade

AE BULLSEYE: The firstprofessional Asian darts player showing why he earned the nickname ‘Rock It’

Zesh moves to ManchesterPakistan international’s foundation expands

The Zesh Rehman Foundation (ZRF) hassuccessfully expanded its educationalprogrammes to schools in Manchester. After a successful pilot of the ‘Primary Kick

About’ programme in Bradford, the ZRF areto pilot a secondary programme at KassimDarwish (KD) Grammar School.Zesh Rehman, 27, who recently appeared

on Sky News talking about the lack of British,visited KD Grammar School to talk tostudents about his challenges and experiencesin football in a hope to inspire the nextgeneration. Talking about the visit Zesh said: “It’s

important to educate the next generation, if Ican inspire one or two to get involved infootball at any level of the game, it will be asuccess to me. Football not only helps you tostay fit and healthy but it can also take you all

over the world.”Irfan Kawri, Head of PE at KD Grammar, is

working with the educational staff at the ZRFto design a football / educational programmecalled ‘On Side’.Mr Kawri, who is also a scout and coach for

Rochdale FC, feels it is important for studentsto meet and speak to role models like Zesh asit has a much bigger impact on their lives. He said: “British Asian’s are clearly under-

represented in all aspects of sport from thegrass roots level to the professional game. Wehave had Haroon Khan come into the schoolto inspire and motivate the boys. Football ismassive in England and the students werereally excited about meeting Zesh andhearing about his career as he is the onlyBritish Asian footballer to play in all fourEnglish leagues.”

AE EXPANDING:Zesh Rehman withrepresentatives fromthe Kassim DarwishGrammer School

Coventry vs Stoke. It was my firstChampionship game and it wasa very tough but a greatexperience.”“There were a few years where

I stopped refereeing, when Imoved to London. I had a family,so it came down to them comingfirst, so I started working for a carhire company. But football is inmy blood, so I soon started onwith my progression again.”Jarnail managed to reach the

Championship before he decidedto retire after he thought it wastime to give his body a rest, butthere was one thing he still wisheshe could have achieved. “I didn’t get the chance to

referee a Premiership game,” saidJarnail. “But you ask any refereeand their goal is become aPremier League ref. The closet Ihave got was being the reserveref for a Premier League game.”Despite retiring from the game,

Jarnail, who is currently a policeCommunity Support Officer withthe London Metropolitan police,is very much still involved withreferring and is on the nationallist of referee assesses, whichhelps review match officials.

REF GIVES HIMSELFTHE RED CARD

The pioneer of Asianreferees retires

Back page story

AE OFFCIAL: Jarnail Singh during hisrefereeing days

From non-league to international starA student from West Yorkshire

has been called up to thePakistan football team for theforthcoming Olympic

qualifiers againstMalaysia.Irfan Khan, 21,from Bradford,maybe just aregular studentstudying sports

development atBolton University buthe is setfor internationalrecognition inPakistan. Irfan said: “I am

really exciting, I was going to makemy debut at the Asian Games but Ihad just started university anddecided not to take time out. “Graham Roberts is now in charge

and to be honest I am excited towork with him, he brings a lot toPakistan.“We are travelling to Thailand on

the February 6th, for two week campBrian Robson he is the manager ofThailand, I think we are playing afriendly game against them so I amlooking forward to meeting him aswell.”Irfan was discovered during a trial

at Rotherham Football Club withscouts from the Pakistan Football

Association (PFF) in attendance.Irfan, who currently plays for a

local Bradford side, MahmoodsFairbank United, was first selected in2007 and was included in the U19’ssquad for a tournament in Iran,making five appearances.He was also called up for a

training camp with the mainPakistan team but was forced towithdraw due to injury and is yet tomake his first full cap.Irfan is still hoping to secure a

professional contract, after having atrial at Scunthorpe United a fewyears ago, and is hoping hisappearances at the Olympicqualifiers will aid his chances.

Rovers fail withRonaldinho bidBlackburn Rovers hopes of

landing a former world player ofthe year have been shattered. Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho

has decided to join Rio deJaneiro-based club Flamengo andending any hope Blackburn had ofsigning the former AC Milanplaymaker.The 30-year-old joined Milan

from Barcelona in 2008 and hadalso been linked to Brazilianteams Gremio and Palmeiras.Rovers boss Steve Kean had

already conceded the club's hopesof signing Ronaldinho were ‘deadin the water’. New Rovers owners, the

Venky’s group, had reportedlyoffered him a £20m three-yearcontract. Rovers owner’s are still keen to

bolster the squad with reportedinterest in Fulham’s Damien Duffand Barcelona youngster RubenRochina.

IPL smashauction recordFifty-five players were sold on

the second and final day of theauction for the Indian PremierLeague (IPL).IPL Teams spent a total of

$62.8m (£40m) over the weekendto buy 127 players, with 350players being for grabs. Indian test batsman Gautam

Gambhir became the mostexpensive player in the history,fetching $2.4m.However other big names,

including former India captainSourav Ganguly and West Indiesbatting great Brian Lara, wentunsold.There were also no takers for

veteran Sri Lankan batsmanSanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle,Mark Boucher and GraemeSwann. This will be the Twenty20

tournament's fourth season, whileits organisers are trying to improveits image, which has been taintedby corruption allegations.The player auction was held at

a luxury hotel in Bangalore andwas attended by some of India'srichest business people and mostfamous film stars.Gambhir was the first player

sold on to the Kolkata KnightRiders.Some top cricketers have opted

out of the IPL this year, includingAustralia's Ricky Ponting, MichaelClarke and Mitchell Johnson. Alsono Pakistan's players wereincluded in this weekend's auction.