Benue Sweeps Darts Medals

Benue yesterday won the two gold medals in darts’ category 501 singles (male) and TDB singles (female) of the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

The Tidesport reports that Terlanga Orngu won the 501 singles, while the Kaduna 2009 gold medallist in the female 301 singles category, Orban Membe, won the TDB singles.

Membe, who was absent to defend her medal in the 301 singles category decided on Thursday morning, later arrived at the Garden City Games to win the female TDB category.

Musa Madaki of Kaduna, who won bronze in the male 301 singles category on Thursday, won silver, while Gray Dolapo of Lagos and Uzoma Mejuru of Imo, won bronze.

In the female category, Patricia John of Delta, who clinched gold in the category in Kaduna, won silver in the 501 category, while Queeneth Nwachukwu of Rivers and Favour Okehie of Imo won bronze.

Billy Akinsola, National President, Darts Federation of Nigeria (DFN), commended the athletes for their maturity and competitiveness.

“The standard of play displayed so far and the comportment of the athletes and officials are positive testimonies of the development of the game in the country,’’ he said.

Orngu thanked God for winning and noted that it would spur him to greater heights in the sport.

In a related development, Chief Diamond Toby-West, Darts Captain at the Port Harcourt Club 1928, pledged his support to the Rivers team in the event.

Toby-West said that though the state was not meeting the desired expectations in the sport, he would continue to support the team to win medals in the remaining categories.

“Though Rivers has only won a bronze so far in the event, they need the support and motivation of all to improve on their performances.

“I have made a personal donation of more than N30,000 and members of the club have also given their individual support to the team,” he said.