Abia State has emerged overall winner of the just concluded 2nd Abia National Darts Championship, winning three gold, two silver and two bronze medals to finish top of the medal table ahead of Rivers and Edo states.
The championship, organised by the Abia State Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in conjunction with the Darts Federation of Nigeria, attracted athletes from 13 states and clubs across the country, providing a platform for talent discovery, competitive development and the promotion of darts in Nigeria.
Rivers State finished second with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while Edo State came third with two gold and three bronze medals.
Oyo State placed fourth with one gold and two bronze medals, followed by Enugu State in fifth position with two silver and two bronze medals. Imo State finished sixth with two silver medals, while Delta State occupied seventh position with two bronze medals.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the South East Zonal Coordinator of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chief Bernard Ezema, commended the Abia State Government and the organisers for providing a platform for athletes to demonstrate their abilities.
Ezema said the championship represented an important step towards improving the standard of darts in Nigeria, urging sports administrators to sustain efforts to develop athletes and prepare them for national and international competitions.
He emphasised the mental demands of the sport, noting that concentration and emotional stability were essential qualities for success.
“Darts is a game that requires emotional stability,” he said, stressing that athletes must learn to manage pressure and remain focused throughout competitions.
The NSC zonal coordinator, who commended the performances recorded during the championship, said more needed to be done to ensure that athletes were adequately prepared to meet the standards required for higher-level competitions.
He also praised the technical directors, coaches and officials for their efforts in maintaining standards during the tournament, expressing hope that the competition would continue to grow and attract more participants in subsequent editions.
Ezema encouraged sports associations to remain committed to talent development, noting that sustained competitions would help identify promising players and create pathways for them to represent Nigeria internationally.
The President of the Darts Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Awolola Adeyemi, also applauded Abia State for hosting the championship, describing the competition as an opportunity to showcase the state’s capacity to support sports and encourage emerging talents.
He disclosed that 13 states and clubs participated in the tournament, expressing optimism that the number would increase at the next edition.
Adeyemi said the competition had enabled participating athletes and officials to experience the hospitality of Abia State firsthand.
“Before we came here, we had been seeing what Abia State looked like on television and social media. But now we have come, we have seen and we have tasted,” he said.
He described Abia as a state worthy of recognition and appreciated the government for providing athletes from different parts of the country with an opportunity to compete.
Adeyemi further commended the state government and sports administrators for their contributions to sports development, noting that sporting activities could help young people discover their abilities and channel their energies into productive ventures.
He added that investment in sports could contribute to crime prevention by providing young people with constructive opportunities to develop their talents.
The Director of Sports, Comrade George Obioma, congratulated the athletes for participating in the championship and urged them to remain committed to their sporting careers.
He noted that although only a few participants would emerge as champions, every athlete stood to gain valuable experience from the competition.
“Participation is the key,” Obioma said, encouraging the players to see the championship as an opportunity to improve their skills, build relationships and learn from other competitors.
He explained that sports offered benefits beyond trophies and medals, including discipline, courage, friendship and personal development.
According to him, the relationships formed during sporting competitions could become lasting friendships, while the discipline acquired through training could positively influence athletes’ lives beyond the sporting arena.
“Football is not more important than darts,” he said, emphasising that darts and other sporting activities deserved recognition and support alongside more popular sports.
Obioma also commended the Abia State Government for creating an environment that encouraged sporting activities and welcomed participants from across the country.
He said the state’s hospitality reflected the cultural values of its people and expressed satisfaction with the participation of athletes and officials in the championship.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Abia State Darts Association, Mr. Emmanuel Aguiyi, thanked God for the successful completion of the championship and appreciated the athletes, coaches, technical officials and organisers for their contributions.
Aguiyi described the athletes as the centre of the competition, noting that the championship would not have been possible without their participation and commitment.
He commended them for displaying discipline, sportsmanship and cooperation throughout the event, while urging those who did not win medals to remain hopeful and continue training.
“If you didn’t win today, that doesn’t mean that you are not a good player. Tomorrow is another day for the athletes,” he said.
The chairman also praised the coaches for their commitment to training and mentoring the athletes, describing them as important role models whose knowledge and guidance were essential to the players’ development.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Director of Sports and the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development towards the organisation of the championship, expressing appreciation to the Abia State Government for its support for sports development.
Aguiyi appealed to the government to sustain its support for darts and consider hosting subsequent editions of the championship, expressing hope that the competition would continue to attract athletes from across the country.
Abia State’s overall victory was supported by medal winning performances across the men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s doubles categories.
In the men’s 501 singles event, Nnamdi Ukaegbu won gold, while Evans Ononikpo secured silver to give Abia State a first place finish and a silver medal in the category.
