Hedman on achieving World Championship qualification at Women's Series: "When they told me I'd qualified, I just cried"

Deta Hedman claimed the second World Championship spot at the recent PDC Women's Series and will be heading to likely the Alexandra Palace alongside Lisa Ashton later this year.

Hedman summed up her emotions recently after having it confirmed and admitted there were tears at the end of the weekend in Barnsley.

“When they told me I’d qualified, I just cried. I asked ‘are you sure, are you really really sure?’ The tears just came," said Hedman to Darts World.

“Oh my good God, it’s up there isn’t it? In a million years I didn’t think I would qualify. But of course I have to thank the sport for Barry Hearn and the PDC for putting this on.

“I didn’t really think I’d qualify. Even though I won one event, I still didn’t think I would."

“I played Fallon four times over the weekend. All I had in my head was, I have to beat Fallon. I don’t really care whatever else. If I’m being honest with you, when I lost to Fallon in the last one on Sunday, I said I’ve blown it but hey ho I gave it a good go.

“We just stayed to watch what was occurring. Lisa then had to play Fallon and that was another flip of the coin. If Lisa had beaten Fallon then I knew I had got it. So when Lisa didn’t win, to me I felt it had gone. Then I was told I had got it on countback of legs won.”

For Hedman, going into the tournament at 61, she is under no illusion that she is in the twilight of her career but for 'The Heart of Darts', it is about enjoying it.

“At the end of the day I will go to the World Championships to enjoy it. I’m at the end of the ladder, not the beginning of the ladder!

“I’m not aware of what I’m achieving. I just go about my business and try not to look too far ahead. I’m just the fighter, I always have been. You ask my mum, I’ve always been the fighter since I was a little girl.

“This is just another chapter in the book. I didn’t think I’d be doing this at 60, not really."