Van Gerwen suffers injured back while showering with wife ahead of World Darts

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Michael van Gerwen has suffered an injured back as the PDC World Darts Championship prepares to undergo – showering with his wife.

The Dutchman goes into the tournament as the favourite, entering the final ranked first in the world.

But about a month ago, there were worries MvG could miss the tournament.

And it was down to a bathroom mishap after he admitted pulling his back while showering with his wife, Daphne Govers.

The Green Machine said: “I had serious problems last month. I had full hospital checks.

“But I feel good now. The people around me are checking me well.

“It was a twitch and nerves behind my ribs, against my lungs. So this part of my body was in pain.

“The previous time, I didn’t slip over in the shower. I coughed.

“I was with my missus in the shower — because we always shower together. It’s good.

“I was sitting in the shower. I started having a cough and pulled my back. That’s how it happened.

“Am I worried about it? No. You need to make sure you have the right people around you to make sure you’re right for the next round.

“The doctors don’t know what has caused it. It could happen to anyone they say.

“The most important thing was my lung and heart were OK. Nothing whatsoever. They’re in fully good condition.

“I never make excuses. Always blame yourself if you play badly. Otherwise you will never get any better.”

Van Gerwen has his sights set on winning the tournament this time round after losing last year to Peter Wright.

He will play either Ryan Murray or Lourence Ilagan in the second round on Saturday with 1,000 fans in attendance.

However, the latest figures indicate London could be about to enter Tier 3 with some of the worse cases in the country – which would mean no supporters could attend the famous event at the Ally Pally.

  • Michael van Gerwen shoved by rival at PDC darts event as spat gets physical

For someone who feeds off the crowd so much, that would be a huge blow for Van Green.

He said: “It has been hard. It’s different for everyone but you have players who don’t mind playing in front of no crowds.

“I do mind. I’m a stage player. If crowds are against me or back me — I don’t care, I want to perform for them, give it a go.

“The adrenaline in my body pumps up. I don’t have that now.

“That was a bit difficult to be fair for me. But everyone has to deal with the situation.

“We all can be grateful that we are playing darts. That is more important.”

  • Michael van Gerwen
  • Peter Wright
  • London

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