Triple finalist of the world darts championship Deta Hedman refused to play against 27-year-old trans woman Noa-Linn van Leuven, writes Bild.
At the WDF tournament in Denmark, van Leuven and Hedman were supposed to meet in the quarterfinals. However, Hedman boycotted the match, and after withdrawing from the tournament, she criticized van Leuven.
The 64-year-old athlete is categorically against allowing transgender individuals to play in women’s competitions. By withdrawing from the tournament, she wanted to clarify her position once again.
“I have always said that I will leave the sport when the enjoyment of it disappears. With the current problems in women’s darts, that moment is getting closer and closer,” Hedman wrote in X.
Noa-Linn van Leuven has identified as a woman since 2014: she underwent surgery and hormone therapy – since then, van Leuven has participated in women’s tournaments. After winning in March at the PDC women’s tournament in Hildesheim, the Dutchwoman faced criticism. Subsequently, some of her national team colleagues withdrew from the team.
