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Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
THE National Darts Association of Zimbabwe believe they were deserved winners of this year’s Annual National Sports Awards Sports Development of the Year award. Initially, there were three contenders for the award with bowling and karate also being shortlisted. However, the Darts Association, who have been credited with spreading the sport across the country eventually won the award and their president Maynard Moyo reckoned they deserved the award despite some questions having been raised on their selection for the accolade.

Moyo highlighted that it is good to be recognised by the Sports Commission and other sporting disciplines that darts is a sport for all and it is gaining its popularity.

“We are all very happy as an association, it is great to learn that most individuals now know darts as a sports for all and not as a sport which is played in beer halls.

“It is good that we have convinced many people including journalists that they should also come and cover our events.

“This year we had the most successful year hence we deserved the award. We hosted the Regional Five Darts Championships and we were the overall winners.

“Hardwork helped to us to achieve all what we had this year. It was because the darts teams are very organised and when it comes to doing well in the sports they do their best.

“We hope that the sport will continue to grow and we want to encourage everyone to feel free and talk to us, we are imperfect and as an association we may make mistakes but people must not hesitate to criticise us so that we can polish up,” Moyo said.

Zimbabwe Darts retained the championship which they last won in 2012. The association also successfully hosted the Easter Darts Tournament and the Heroes Darts Tournament which were all successful.