2024 ST Athlete of the Year nominee: Darts player Paul Lim

Q: Tell us about how you started playing at a London pub, Robin Hood, 50 years ago.

I was living then in Chiswick, London, and Robin Hood was the closest pub to my home. And they had darts there.

Q: You have lived and worked in Singapore, the United States, England, Hong Kong, Japan and Papua New Guinea. Which was the most memorable?

In a strange way Papua New Guinea brings back a lot of great memories. Most importantly, I represented them in the Pacific Cup and won the singles title.

It was my first time playing for a foreign country, and my opponent in the final was an American called Jerry Umberger.

We became friends and then he shared with me about the American darts circuit that had good prize money, and he encouraged me to move to the US which I eventually did.

Q: What is your aim in 2025?

I want to give it my all in darts as I know I am getting older and it is not getting any easier.

While I still have the passion and dedication and the love of competition, I want to do the unthinkable and reach the unreachable.

Q: What did you do with the £52,000 you won from making a perfect nine-darter at the 1990 world championship?

I used the money to start my darts business in the US, selling accessories and supplying soft-tip machines to locations and operating leagues, tournaments and events.

Q: Among a nine-darter, golf hole-in-one, bowling 300 and a snooker 147, which is more difficult and why?

I really think there’s a bit of luck involved in the break for a 147, and also the hole-in-one even though you need the skill to hit the ball towards the cup.

But for the nine-darter, you have to hit the target nine times. No luck involved, so I think it’s harder.

Q: Who is your favourite darts player, and who do you think is the next big thing?

My favourite had always been Leighton Rees from Wales, a fine gentleman and great champion. The next big thing must definitely be England’s Luke Littler, a sensation and fantastic player who became a world champion at only 17.

Q: What is the funniest or weirdest thing that has happened to you in a darts match?

It happened in a league match in Papua New Guinea. When the opponents – all locals – walked in, I noticed that they were not carrying any darts or cases, which I thought was strange because they cannot expect to be playing with our darts or house darts.

And then they started taking out their darts, one at a time, from their thick Afro hair, which was so thick it could hold their darts which didn’t fall out. I was laughing my head off.

Q: Is it true that people play better when drunk?

Definitely not true. You cannot play darts well when you are drunk.

Some drink a bit to help with their nerves, but some don’t need them. Littler is a fine example, he doesn’t drink at all.

Q: What’s the best and worst thing about being 71?

The best part is I have lived a life of adventure, met many new friends, visited many countries and lived an exciting life.

The worst is I know one day all these will stop. But my love for darts, being active in competition and having something to look forward to every day keep me active, alert and alive.

And I wish I can involve other seniors to play and enjoy darts for a bit of hand-eye coordination, a bit of walking and excitement.

Q: Why should darts become a mainstream sport?

It requires focus, stamina, consistency, mental toughness, strategy, calculation, composure and many other qualities. It is as good as any other sport and I believe either steel-tip or electronic darts should first be in the SEA Games, and then the Asian Games and Olympics.

Achievements in 2024: