Fallon Sherrock has hit out at darts players who use illness as an excuse for poor performances, saying women have to play through period pain. The 30-year-old was responding to Michael van Gerwen's recent withdrawal from three Premier League nights due to illness.
Speaking on the Double Tops podcast, Sherrock said: 'If you're ill like Michael van Gerwen has been, of course it's hard to play it down. But you've got to try and play your best and just get on with it.' She added: 'For women, we have periods and the cramps that go with those. People don't understand how hard that sort of stuff is.'
Sherrock, who made history at the 2019 PDC World Championship, said she has to perform despite discomfort: 'I don't really want to be up there playing darts but I've got to go out and do it. I have to go out on stage and play well otherwise I'm going to lose. It's just part of being a darts player. So when people say they're sick or are feeling under the weather, I don't really buy it.'
Van Gerwen, despite his issues, sits third in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, world champion Luke Littler has struggled, sitting seventh after four nights. But Sherrock believes Littler is playing mind games: 'He's sitting back and putting a challenge on himself – 100 per cent! I can see him really coming out all guns blazing in the later weeks and almost surprising everyone.'
She added: 'I don't see any way he doesn't make it to the O2 in London. He's biding his time, will come out all guns blazing and do what we know he does… win.' Sherrock also noted Littler's new on-stage persona: 'He's got a character now, which he didn't really have when he burst on the scene. I think he'll play on that more and more.'
