Luke Littler: The darts participant was looked for extra on Google than Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles within the UK this 12 months | Darts Information

Luke Littler has been named the third most searched individual on Google within the UK, forward of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and King Charles.

Littler, who’s making ready for the World Darts Championship which begins this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. reside Aerial sports activitieswas solely behind the Princess of Wales, searched underneath the identify Kate Middleton, and US President-elect Donald Trump.

The 17-year-old caught the attention 12 months in the past throughout his run to the World Championship last, which he misplaced to Luke Humphries.

The January finale was watched by 4.8 million individuals on Aerial sports activitiesthe very best non-football viewers ever recorded.

Littler tops the rankings of the UK’s most sought-after athletes this 12 months, forward of Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win Euro 2024, and gymnast Simone Biles, who gained three medals gold in Paris 2024.

“Being acknowledged in two 12 months in Search lists is an incredible honor,” Littler mentioned.

“It has been an unbelievable 12 months for me personally and for the game of darts as a complete. I am unable to consider I am trending greater than the Prime Minister and the King within the individuals class.

“In a 12 months marked by such nice sporting achievements, it’s a proud second for me to be the most well liked athlete in 2024.”

Little grew to become the youngest participant to attain a televised nine-darter on the Bahrain Darts Masters earlier this 12 months, the place he additionally gained his first PDC senior title.

He featured within the 17-week Premier League sequence, profitable the play-off evening in London with one other 9 darter within the last in Might.

After profitable the Poland Darts Masters, Littler skilled a dip in type with first spherical exits from the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, however he gained the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Sequence of Darts Finals in November.

Boxer Khelif is probably the most sought-after athlete on this planet

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was the world’s most Googled athlete this 12 months after a row over her Olympic eligibility.

Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting, from Taiwan, reportedly failed gender checks in 2023, though no proof was or has been offered to help this declare.

Some inaccurate headlines instructed the boxers had been transgender athletes, regardless that each had been born feminine and had been categorized as feminine of their passports. Nonetheless, the dispute proved controversial and introduced the controversy over feminine eligibility and classification into the highlight.

Khelif gained gold within the ladies’s welterweight competitors in Paris amid large controversy after the Worldwide Boxing Affiliation (IBA) mentioned the Algerian had been disqualified from the 12 months’s World Championships final for non-compliance with gender eligibility standards.

The 25-year-old filed a criticism with French authorities over the web abuse and harassment she suffered in the course of the Video games, and the IOC mentioned in early November that it was now additionally taking motion following the brand new reviews appeared in France. , allegedly detailing his leaked medical information.

He additionally mentioned he was “saddened” by the abuse Khelif has suffered since his look in Paris.