Nagaland: ‘Naga youth have potential for darts’

Vikehelie Suohu on promoting the sport in Nagaland

KOHIMA, August 16 (NEPS): In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, one sportsperson, who is one of the proponents in developing and promoting the Darts sport in Nagaland, sees that the youth in the state have the potential to play the game.

Vikehelie (Azeu) Suohu, who hails from Kohima Village, narrated as to how he was introduced to the sport in Nagaland. “It was through my friend, Thejakielie Zuyie, a Darts player and then proprietor of LifePro Café, I joined the games,” he said. “I instantly got attracted to this new game and soon discovered of my potential for it (game).”

The Darts playing community and organizations surrounding the darts community are well structured where active and serious competitions are held for different types of Darts Games like Common Standard 501, Cricket, and Around the Clock.

Suohu, who is Finance Secretary of the Nagaland Darts Association (NDA), said in order to excel in any game, one has to invest mentally, physically, financially in it. He ordered a bristle dartboard and some Unicorn and Winmau tungsten darts in 2013 and stepped into the world of Darts and its players’ community.

Stating that there was no easy route to achieve any goal, Suohu disclosed his routine for practicing the Darts. “I practice daily in the evening for one hour and 2 to 3 hours of practice during the tournaments,” he said. “I soon realized that it is not easy or simple as it seemed in the beginning because though it does not require much physical exertion yet it demands physical prowess to be able to hit the target. It requires mental math, a steady hand, a focused mind, and undisturbed attention. This constitutes growth and skill level that must be developed through constant practice.”

Suohu has already participated in many Darts Tournaments ever since he joined the game, He won in the Open Darts Championship Dimapur in 2014, FTC Darts Masters in 2019 and Joint 3rd (Team Event) in the IDF (Indian Darts Federation) National Darts Championship in 2019 and Joint 9th (Open Singles) in the IDF National Darts Championship in 2019.

Currently, he is in Team India under the Captaincy of Shailender Dixit competing in some Online Darts Tournaments organized by the different Darts Communities around the world such as Amateur Darts News World Cup, COVID-Championship of various International Darters.

Saying that there were chances of recognition as a sports person with different games and levels of Darts Competitions going on with attractive prize money,’ he shared his keen desire to “introduce the darts games to the youths who are investing their good amount of time in the virtual games confined to their mobile phones.”