Good Morning POU!
Today’s featured sports star is from the world of Darts….yes…DARTS!
Deta Hedman, the “Dark Destroyer”
Deta Hedman (born 14 November 1959) is a Jamaican-born English darts player currently playing in British Darts Organization events.
Hedman reached the Women’s World Masters final for the first time in 1990, losing to Rhian Speed. She won the Women’s World Masters in 1994. When she retired from darts in 1997 due to work commitments, she had been Women’s World Number 1 since 1994.
Hedman returned to darts in 2002 with the Professional Darts Corporation. She qualified for the UK Open in 2004, and more famously in 2005, when she defeated Aaron Turner and Norman Fletcher before losing to Wayne Atwood in the last 64. Her win over Turner was the first time that a female darts player had beaten a male player in a televised major.
Due to work commitments, Hedman retired again in 2007, but returned to the BDO in 2010. After winning numerous open titles in 2009, she qualified for the BDO Women’s World Championship for the first time in 2010. She defeated Irina Armstrong 2-0 in the quarter-finals, but was beaten 2-0 by eventual champion Trina Gulliver in the semi-finals.
Hedman also competed in the first PDC Women’s World Darts Championship in 2010, but lost to Fiona Carmichael in the quarter-finals.
At the 2011 BDO World Darts Championship, Hedman defeated Belgium’s Patricia De Peuter 2-1 in the quarter-finals before being whitewashed 2-0 by Rhian Edwards in the semi-finals.
Hedman’s best run at the BDO World Darts Championship came in 2012, where she beat Rhian Edwards and Lorraine Farlam to reach the final. In the final, she led Anastasia Dobromyslova by a set and threw for the championship, but was broken and ultimately lost 2-1.
Despite being ranked No.1 for the 2013 BDO World Darts Championship Hedman was knocked out in the first round 0-2 by Lisa Ashton. The following season, Hedman won 14 titles and once again reached the world final, but lost once again this time from 2-0 in sets and 2-1 in legs having yet again thrown for the title. Hedman eventually lost the final 3-2 to Lisa Ashton despite having a checkout percentage over 75%.
Known as the ‘Dark Destroyer’ on the darts circuit, Hedman admits that the sport probably won’t see another black woman from these shores dominate in the same way. She said: “In fairness most British black women don’t go to the local pub for a drink do they? It’s more an English culture to go down the pub and play darts. “It’s unlikely that you will see someone like me again but there is the rest of the world. Don’t forget the African-Caribbean countries have their own darts culture.” The darts veteran is, however, cognizant that “there are some black players in this country but it (darts) is not easy to dedicate your life to it if you have kids or a big family. I don’t have that, I do as I please. I work and play darts it’s simple for me.” Hedman has no idea when she will call time on her career, but she insists whatever happens, her dream would be to see a nationally recognized men against women tournament started soon. “When I do stop playing I would like to work behind the scenes to help the sport attract more women, not just from the black community from everywhere.” “I think the BBC and Eurosport showing the women play live at the start of the year helped the sport’s profile a lot. But more media support is needed to grow the sport and attract more sponsors.”