By Sharm El-Sheik – Egypt:
On the second day of the darts championship in Sharm El Sheikh, the Egyptian women’s doubles team advanced to the final, where they will compete against Uganda. Additionally, the Egyptian women’s singles team reached the semifinals and will face Uganda tomorrow.
In men’s doubles, Bahrain, Uganda, and Palestine progressed to the semifinals. In men’s singles, Egypt’s national champion, Mohamed Gharib, advanced to the semifinals and will compete against Ugandan champion David Tabaro. Moreover, Bahrain’s Basim Mahmoud will take on Palestinian player Waseem Asili in the semifinals.
Dietmar Schumann, Vice President of the World Darts Federation, emphasized that Egypt has the potential to host the World Cup, particularly in Sharm El Sheikh, which offers a wide variety of hotels and affordable charter flights, making it an ideal location for all World Cup participants. If Egypt completes the necessary preparations and submits a strong proposal to the International Federation in 2025, it will have a significant opportunity to host the championship in Sharm El Sheikh. Schumann commended the Arab and African federations for their role in organizing the tournament, especially since it is being held in Africa for the first time in 44 years.
He noted that if Egypt submits its bid to host the championship in Sharm El Sheikh next year, it is likely to receive broad approval due to the city’s excellent facilities, including an international conference center with halls suitable for hosting matches. Schumann also praised the organization of this year’s championship, which is being conducted under the auspices of the International Federation and led by the Arab and African federations, including West Asian countries.
Captain Riad Mustafa, representing the President of the Palestinian Darts Federation, expressed his delight in participating in this year’s Arab and African tournaments. He highlighted the role of the Arab and African federations in promoting the sport both regionally and globally. Mustafa pointed out that the inclusion of both Arab and African teams allows players to develop their technical skills and gain valuable experience, culminating in a third-place finish—a remarkable achievement in the tournament.
Mustafa added that the Palestinian team will support Egypt’s bid to host the Darts World Cup in 2027.
Palestinian player Taysir Mustafa remarked that participating in the tournament provided valuable preparation for future championships, citing his recent experience in a tournament in Hungary, where he achieved an advanced position.
Mohamed Tawfiq Labidi, President of the Tunisian Darts Federation and recently elected Vice President of the African Federation, expressed his joy at visiting Egypt for the third time and conveyed his desire to return regularly, appreciating the hospitality he received. This goodwill led to an agreement between the Tunisian and Egyptian darts federations. Tunisia had previously participated in last year’s tournament in Luxor and in the Bahrain championship, where Tunisian players Arij Ben Aziza won gold and Wissal Ben Mansour also performed admirably. However, due to exam periods, the Tunisian players could not participate this year, as many of them are students.
Labidi mentioned that the sport of darts originated as an idea during his time at the International Press Club in Egypt, where he organized a demonstration match with journalists. The success of this event spurred the creation of both the Arab and African federations, contributing to Tunisia’s distinguished sporting reputation. Soon after, the Tunisian Darts Federation was established.
Labidi expressed his enthusiasm for supporting Egypt’s bid to host the 2027 Darts World Championship, confirming that Tunisia will stand by Egypt until the International Federation selects it as the host nation.