TACLOBAN CITY-A number of countries are to join an international darts competition to be held on April 19 in Palo, Leyte.
The international darts competition, to be staged at the Leyte Academic Center, will be the first time ever that the region will be hosting.
Former congressman Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel whose An Waray party-list group is among the sponsor of the international sporting event, said that international darts competition will be sanctioned by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
In fact, some PSC officials will be attending the international competition, Noel said.
He added that considering that the Philippines will be playing as host in next year’s ASEAN Games, there is a possibility that darts will be included among its sports’ events.
Noel said that more than 300 darters have so far registered to the four-day international darts competition.
The former solon said that they expect that the number of darters who will participate in the competition will increase as registration is still ongoing.
Aside from the darters from the country, darters from the United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Croatia, Poland, Austria, England, France, Indonesia, and Brunei are to join the event.
“This will be the first time that such kind of event will be held here,” Noel said.
Noel said that they hope that by hosting the international dart competition it would further help in rekindling the interest of the sports lover in the region on dart.
“In fact, we have some of the best dart players in the country,” he said.
And if darts will be included in next year’s ASEAN Games, Noel said that it could become one of the country’s sources of medal hauls.
Noel also said that the four-day event, renewing the interest of the public on dart, could also help the local tourism and economy of Palo and Tacloban City where the participants are to be billeted. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA with report JOEY A. GABIETA)
