Noa-Lynn van Leuven made history last weekend. After all, she is the first Dutch lady ever to qualify for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, which starts in mid-December. In addition, she may also be in action next month at the Grand Slam of Darts .
Van Leuven finished second in the final standings of the PDC Women's Series, securing a spot at the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship. "When I won the first tournament of the final weekend, I didn't know I was seeded yet. A lot of people were calculating. Only when I started the second tournament, I heard it couldn't lose anymore," Van Leuven said to AD.nl.
Nervous
"I was really extremely nervous. The first game of the weekend against Trina Gulliver I genuinely had SO many nerves. I hadn't had that for a very long time.' I didn't dare believe it when it worked out. Everything came out. You work a whole year for this. Then this really does something to you. It was just a moment when I thought, "Noa, I'm really proud of you. You did so well. I think I should be proud too.
Van Leuven does realize that a busy period is coming up, with numerous interviews and the like. "I have already received invitations from three or four talk shows, but I don't know yet what I will do with them. I was surprised by the many positive messages I received, though. My WhatsApp and Instagram exploded, but the first messages I read were very positive. Then I still thought: wow, maybe it will be something someday."
Noa-Lynn van Leuven in action
Hate comments
Van Leuven, a biological male by birth who transitioned in her teens which has been the source of vitriol online and also in person from players. On the WDF Tour, Deta Hedman refuses to play against her and her compatriots Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf refuse to play with her for the Dutch team. She also received a lot of hate on social media. "That still does something to me," she says. "It's not fun to read hate comments about yourself. I know the standard reactions by now, but they always find something new to hit me with. That says more about them than about me, as far as I'm concerned."
Fortunately, Van Leuven can count on some good friends. "Suzanne is my ex, but still a very good friend. She is always there for me when I want to get my heart out. That's a special bond. But also Stefan Schroder, who this year immediately suggested joining me on the talk show Sophie & Jeroen. That helps me so much.''
"Other than that, I do everything myself and draw my own plan," continued Van Leuven, who also offers some good advice. "People should maybe act normal for once and have respect for all people. Let everyone have their own life. If people think something of me, that's totally fine. Maybe I think something of them too.... I'll soon be at 'Ally Pally.'
