Calmly Aiming For Perfection

In a special series, Play of the Month, The Sunday Times' sports desk dives into a sport. Every month this year, an expert in a sport provided tips for readers. The December spotlight is on darts.

- David Lee

Through his smiley disposition, one would not be able to tell that Leslie Lee had anger management issues in his early days of playing darts, as he would punch the board or walk out on his team when things were not going well.

Thanks to the sport, the 37-year-old manager, who works in logistics, has mellowed.

"I got to know my current boss through darts, and he taught me a lot through the sport," Lee told The Sunday Times at the sprawling Forest5 Darts Cafe, at Safra Mount Faber, which features 38 electronic dartboards and 12 steel-tip dartboards.

"He used darts to teach me the importance of controlling my emotions. To play darts well, you cannot be impatient or easily frustrated, which is the same for life in general.

"As someone who also represents Singapore in international competitions, there are people watching how I behave, so it is also important for me to learn how to control my anger when things don't go my way."

His wife Cheryl Tan, who picked up the sport through him, has also become a more confident person through darts as she took part in competitions and made more friends.