Darts is becoming more than a social sport in Papua New Guinea as its following grows from strength to strength each season, attracting people like 13-year-old prodigy Serah Pepena.

Pepena made history recently as the youngest player to represent PNG in darts and was the only youth competitor in the recent South Pacific Darts championships held in Suva, Fiji.

She scored a tournament-high of 180 in the pool matches and finished ninth overall.

Pepena plays for the Tauroos Darts Club in the National Capital District Darts Association competition and is attending Eki-Vaki Primary School.

“I was a bit shaky when I found out I was the only youth player to compete at the championship in Fiji,” she said.

“Playing against senior women from other Pacific countries was nerve-wracking but then I remembered it was similar to competitions back home.”

Darts growing in popularity 

Darts in Papua New Guinea has typically been associated more with social gatherings, but the national federation under the leadership of Molean Kilepak is trying to change that mindset, setting standards to make the sport more competitive.

The PNG Darts Federation and affiliated associations have been running competitions across the country with competitions for youth, seniors and masters each weekend.

PNG is considered a leading country in the sport within the Pacific, following its national men’s team’s 6-5 narrow win over the Cook Islands at the fourth South Pacific Dart Championship in Suva, Fiji last month.

As the only affiliated Pacific country to the World Darts Federation, PNG made a return to the regional meet after seven years.

It competed against hosts Fiji, the Cook Islands, Niue, Nauru, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tonga.

“Our men’s and women’s national teams won the inaugural SPDC titles when it was hosted in Port Vila, Vanuatu back in 2018,” said Mr Kilepak.

“After missing two SPDC titles in Niue (2020) and Tonga (2022) respectively due to funding, we made it our business to return and compete through support from our friends and families. Their support carried us through to reclaim the title.”

Although the women’s national team didn’t get a podium finish, their performances earned them good rankings at the regional titles.

He said the national team was selected on merit via player statistics following the 17th National Singles titles in Kokopo, East New Britain last year.

Mr Kilepak, who was part of the 2018 national team, said the recent victory was motivation and there were plans ahead of PNG’s 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary.

The country is working to prepare and send a youth and senior team to compete in the 2025 World Darts Federation (WDF) World Dart Cup in South Korea, of which Pepena is also a part.

Pacific Games inclusion push 

Despite losing their bid to Cook Islands to host the 5th South Pacific Dart Championship in PNG by 2027, Mr Kilepak was voted in as SPDC vice president and sees it as a positive outcome for the country.

As darts continues to grow within the Pacific, there are talks to affiliate with national Olympic committees to push for darts inclusion in the next Pacific Games.

He said under the Pacific Games Charter, at least six countries are needed to play the sport and be eligible.

“Since 2018, there have been more than six countries and now one of the requirements is to get a letter of endorsement from each country to push for darts to be included. About four or five countries have already done their part,” Mr Kilepak explained.

He said PNG was one of those yet to submit a proposed endorsement.

“We are now looking to work with the PNG Olympic Committee and PNG Sports Foundation to agree on the compulsory number of players per team should darts be included in the next Pacific Games.”

Original Link: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/growth-of-darts-in-papua-new-guinea/105054358