BENDIGO'S Justin Thompson's return to international darts has proved a quadruple success.
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Thompson was part of the Australian team which won the 2016 Asia-Pacific Cup tournament in Japan earlier this month.
Not only did Thompson secure overall gold, he won gold in the singles, doubles and team events.
Only two other players in Asia-Pacific Cup history, both Australians, have achieved four gold medals at the one event since the tournament's inception in 1980.
They are Russell Stewart (1988) and Keith Sullivan (1992).
Thompson defeated Australian teammate Peter Machin 4-1 in the singles championship and teamed with Western Australian Adam Rowe to win the doubles over a Japanese pairing.
The team of Thompson and Rowe entered the Cup in good form after winning the Australian Masters doubles tournament in Geelong, a week before leaving for Japan.
The quadruple gold medallist said he could not have dreamed of a better return to international darts, having last represented Australia 12 years ago.
"We were sitting around the table before the singles and the doubles and teams finals and someone said we could win an overall gold," he said.
"We didn't realise if that we won the overall, we won another gold.
"I beat Peter Machin in the singles 4-1 and that gave us plenty of points towards the overall."
The Australians prevailed over seven countries and regions, including Korea, Iran, Macau, Singapore and the hosts Japan.
Thompson capped an outstanding tour overseas by finishing equal third in the Japan Open.
He will next set his sights on a league singles tournament in Geelong this weekend.
Bendigo Darts League life member Stan Phelps said it was wonderful to see Thompson and his Australian teammates achieve notoriety in the darting world.
"Justin certainly played magnificently and all darts players in Bendigo should be proud of him after such a long hard road in regards to practice and regaining his confidence again," he said.
"With a 34 per cent average, we will be hearing a lot more about this exceptional darts player."
Thompson only returned to playing darts earlier this year after a 12 year absence from the sport.
He represented Victoria at the Australian championships in Bendigo in July and won the prestigious Victorian Masters title a month later.
