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Momo Zhou's World Cup qualification 'great for the game' says Wayne Mardle

"Who's to say in time there's not a pairing of women? That's good, I think it's great for the game."

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Wayne Mardle and Rod Studd discuss female darts player Momo Zhou qualifying for the World Cup

Momo Zhou will become China’s first female competitor at this year's World Cup of Darts and Wayne Mardle says that it is "great for the game".

The 26-year-old will become only the second ever woman to compete at the World Cup of Darts, following in the footsteps of three-time Lakeside champion Anastasia Dobromyslova, who represented Russia back in 2010.

Chinese woman to make history at WC
Chinese woman to make history at WC

World Cup of Darts berth for Chinese woman Momo Zhou

Zhou won the World Cup China qualifier to seal her spot in Frankfurt and she will be partnered by runner-up Xiaochen Zong, as the tournament takes place at the Eissporthalle from May 31 - June 3, live on Sky Sports.

Zhou and 20-year-old Zong - who qualified for last year's World Championship - both hail from the same hometown of Dandong in Liaoning Province, and the pair will be looking to improve upon China's first-round exit last year.

Momo Zhou will make history at this year's World Cup of Darts (picture courtesy of PDC)

Sky Sports expert Wayne Mardle insisted that gender has never been a barrier in the PDC, and has welcomed the news of Zhou's qualification.

"The PDC have always said it's not a men's division, it's not a men's World Championship, it's not a men's World Matchplay. It's the World Matchplay, it's the World Championship, and it's open to absolutely anyone if they're good enough," Mardle said.

"The World Cup of Darts is exactly the same as the others, so who's to say in time there's not a pairing of women? That's good, I think it's great for the game.

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"We're not silly, if you're good enough, man or woman, it doesn't matter and it shouldn't matter," he said.

Mardle also believes that Zhou's qualification gives the tournament an added dimension, and hopes that the women's game continues to progress across the globe.

Long may the progress continue for women and they continue to get better and better so that they take the men's places who they're clearly better than.
Wayne Mardle

Hawaii 501 added: "Long may the progress continue for women and they continue to get better and better so that they take the men's places who they're clearly better than.

"I'm quite pleased for the tournament actually because it will give it a bit of a lift and every event needs that sometimes."

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Wayne Mardle was speaking to Sky Sports' Raz Mirza. The World Cup of Darts is back for four fun-filled days in Frankfurt from Thursday May 31 when coverage gets underway on Sky Sports Action and Main Event.

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