Sandra ‘Prime’ Wins Bronze for Enugu State at National Darts Championship in Umuahia

Sandra ‘Prime’ Wins Bronze for Enugu State at National Darts Championship in Umuahia

Sandra Ekhibigbowa, popularly known as Prime, has expressed excitement after winning a bronze medal for Enugu State at the National Darts Championship held at Umuahia Stadium, Abia State October 2026.

Ekhibigbowa, who disclosed this during an interview, explained that she had been training with the Abia darts team for several months before participating in the national competition. She said this was her first appearance / outing at the championship and was picked to represent Enugu State, describing the opportunity as a chance for officials to assess her abilities and performance.

According to her, the competition marked an important milestone in her sporting career, as she secured a national bronze medal despite being relatively new to the game. She attributed her achievement to God’s grace, dedication and the encouragement she received from her coaches and colleagues.

Explaining the sport, Prime described darts as an interesting but highly calculative game that requires concentration, intelligence, accuracy and emotional discipline. She noted that players must remain focused throughout competitions rather than allow personal challenges or distractions to affect their performance.

The budding athlete disclosed that she intends to develop darts into a professional career, expressing confidence that the sport has a promising future in Nigeria. She said efforts are already being made by stakeholders to expand its popularity, attract government support and introduce the game to schools, recreational centres, including clubs where people currently play other games.

She further explained that Abia State was awarded to host the second edition of the National Dart Championship 2026 because of its previous experience in hosting the first edition in 2019. On facilities, she maintained that Nigeria has the basic equipment and infrastructure required for the sport, although improvements in technology remain necessary to compete favourably with more advanced countries.

Prime expressed appreciation to her coach, Coach George Chukwuma, who also is a national darts coach, and her captain, Captain Nnamdi Ukaegwu, for their encouragement, training and confidence in her abilities. She particularly acknowledged their role in preparing her for her first national outing, adding that winning a bronze medal has strengthened her determination to achieve greater success in future competitions.