Tonga women win silver at South Pacific Darts Championship [1]
Monday, January 27, 2025 - 18:05
The Tonga national ladies darts team won silver medal at the 4th South Pacific Darts Championships (SPDC) in Suva, Fiji, on 25 January.
They won over Nauru, PNG, Fiji, and also secured their first ever victory over Niue but, ultimately, lost in the final to Cook Islands.
Team manager Sulia Perkins told Matangi Tonga, “Tonga performed really well all through the tournament but were unable to overcome the defending champions the Cook Islands, who took the game to a whole different level, showing their great talents. We are so happy that we get to compete with the best of the best.”
Neil Dalgety, President of South Pacific Darts Association and Club Captain of Tonga Darts Association, said "the silver medal for the ladies is the best they have ever achieved following from their bronze medals in Niue 2020 and Tonga 2023."
"The hard work at practice that the girls put in over the past six months was evident in their performance and results," he added.
SP Darts Championship
The Fiji SPDC brought together a record seven nations in the ladies division, with Fiji competing for the first time and PNG and Nauru returning to the event.
Dalgety said that continuing the development and improvement of players through a strong domestic competition will be one of the major objectives of Tonga Darts Association in 2025 before the next international event, the Polynesian Cup in 2026.
The Pacific-wide goal all countries that competed in the South Pacific Darts Championships are striving for is the recognition of Darts as sport for the eligible for the Pacific Games and Mini Games.
"One of the great aspects of darts is that ladies, men, young and old can all play against against other."
In order to attract new players to the sport Tonga Darts Association will be implementing funding, permitting a village and school competition in the next 12 months.
The 2025 ladies darts team includes Kalina Soakai, Fineeva Dilger, Malia Jones, Angela Hikila, Hulita Kaihea, Rachel Taukeiaho, and Faka'anaua Tuitavuki, led by manager Sulia Perkins.