Kria Odayar, originally from Shalcross, was awarded the title of best darts player in the country after winning the 2026 South African National Darts Championship. The tournament took place in Cape Town last week.
Odayar, who is 40 years old, called this victory a great honor but expressed a wish that her late father, Morgan, could have been present for such a remarkable sporting achievement, dedicating the win to him.
She started playing darts to spend time with Morgan, who was a respected member of the Chatsworth and District Darts Association (CDDA). The Odayar family is deeply connected to this sport.
Her mother, Sarodh, who is also an experienced player, serves as her favorite partner in doubles matches. Together they have won the South African Doubles Champion title three times.
Sarodh took a break from playing after Morgan's death last year. Odayar noted that shared victories with her mother were one of the greatest joys of her career. She also emphasized that the current season was a serious test because she had to participate in the national tournament 'without the biggest supporters, like Mom and Dad.'
Despite this, she expressed pride in the title won, saying she finally achieved what she had always dreamed of. Odayar, being a mother of two children, mentioned that while this is her best victory, another memorable award is the 2019 South African Doubles Championship win when she was eight months pregnant with her daughter.
Her passion for the sport arose in 2013 when she discovered its competitive side and fell in love with it. Previously, she viewed darts merely as a recreational game for socializing. She recounted how she often helped her father with match statistics, and one evening he invited her to a local tournament. Without her knowledge, he registered her in a single-elimination tournament where she reached the Top 10. This moment, according to her, sparked her interest in darts.
Playing darts became a combination of quality time with her father and unexpectedly good performance in her first singles competition. Odayar has competed internationally in Romania in 2019 and in South Korea in 2025. Her highest international ranking was 167.
She mentioned that her toughest opponent is her uncle Rajen Odayar, who earned his 'Springbok' colors this year after more than 20 years. They both plan to visit Egypt in 2027 for the Darts World Cup.
Odayar concluded that darts taught her that success is measured not only by trophies but also by perseverance, discipline, and the courage to move forward. She urged all players, whether they are starting out or pursuing dreams, to believe in themselves, enjoy every moment, and never stop striving for improvement.
