Bad break for Bates
Barrie Bates has revealed a broken foot was the reason behind his limping display in Blackpool.
By Paul Higham
Last Updated: 12/09/07 10:42am
Barrie Bates has revealed that a broken bone in his foot was the reason behind his limping display at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, and not gout as was suspected.
The Welshman suffered from ankle and foot pain during the qualifiers for the Las Vegas Desert Classic in July, and doctors initially said he was suffering with gout when he returned to the UK.
Bates was seen limping around the oche in Blackpool, when he was bravely beaten by Raymond van Barneveld.
After his exit from the Winter Gardens he returned to doctors who then told him he had a broken bone in his foot, and he was immediately put inplaster.
"I've never had pain like I had in Blackpool!" Bates told PlanetDarts.tv. "I was in agony.
"It started around the time of the Desert Classic and I went to the hospital afterwards and they thought it was gout.
"But after I lost to Raymond in the World Matchplay, I went straight home the next day and had a scan.
"They told me it was an old football injury that had re-broken, possibly because I stand on it a lot and maybe due to the flight we had to Las Vegas.
"It was getting weaker and weaker and then it broke again, Blackpool was the final straw I guess - I couldn't move."
Comeback target
Bates is due to have his plaster removed next week and he is hopefully of playing in the World Darts Trophy at the end of August, although the Pro Tour events in Newport at the end of September are a realistic target.
"I go back on Monday to have the plaster off and we'll see what happens then, but realistically I am looking at being back for Newport.
"Hopefully it will be healed before then and I can play in the World Darts Trophy but we'll wait and see, and I'm not going to the Players Championships in Atlanta and Windy City.
"It's certainly hard work on the crutches - harder than playing!"
