Champion British darts player Deta Hedman made a strong statement by forfeiting her quarter-final match against transgender opponent Noa-Lynn van Leuven at the Denmark Open. Hedman, known for her criticism of men competing in women’s darts tournaments, refused to play Van Leuven and missed out on a chance to advance to the semi-finals.
In response to claims on social media that she had pulled out of the match due to illness, the 64-year-old directly stated that she refused to play a man in a women’s event. Hedman, a three-time WDF World Champion runner-up, has been a prominent figure in women’s darts since the 1980s, participating in prestigious events like the World Masters and the Dutch Open.
Before heading to Denmark, Hedman shared a message on her Facebook page emphasizing the importance of women and girls being champions in their own sports. She also vocalized her support for protecting women’s sports.
Last year, Hedman expressed her opposition to transgender inclusion in women’s darts tournaments on social media. This incident is not the first time players have withdrawn from competitions due to Van Lueven competing against women. In a previous instance, two women quit the Dutch National Women’s Team citing the unfairness of his inclusion.
Overall, Hedman’s decision to forfeit her match at the Denmark Open has sparked a conversation about gender inclusion in sports tournaments.
