"You don't belong at a tournament and I hope you drop dead" - Noa-Lynn van Leuven faces increasingly negative comments
PDC
Noa-Lynn van Leuven made history last weekend, becoming the first trans woman ever to win a tournament on the PDC Challenge Tour.
Reason for satisfaction for Van Leuven, although she also had to deal with several negative comments. "I just want to do my thing," she says to AD.nl. "But it seems like people have to comment. They often don't even read what is written. They immediately have the reflex: so, we can go on. While I see myself as the first woman to win a Challenge Tour tournament".
Those negative comments got worse and worse. "You don't belong at a tournament like this" and "I hope you drop dead" are some of the offerings she has had to deal with. Multiple World Championship participant Deta Hedman even wrote an extensive argument against transwomen within women's darts. Among other things, she cited that trans women do not experience menstrual complaints and thus have an advantage. Hedman thereby referred to several studies.
"Yes, that did do something to me," says Van Leuven. "There's a constant search for new points. Then everyone goes wild. Whether I fear that someone will ever refuse to play against me, as happened in snooker? Something like that is in the back of my mind. I don't know what it would do to me. You can say, 'thank you, I'll be one round ahead,' but yes.... We all want to do what we enjoy: darts without the hassle."
However, the 27-year-old Dutchwoman, who transitioned from male to female at age 17, is especially eager to answer critics on the board. She is now ninth on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit. At the end of the year, the top two may participate in the World Darts Championship. "Playing against Michael Van Gerwen. That would be something, wouldn't it?"
The problem you have noa is that PDC events on the whole ARE open to all, no problem there, but you are a biological male and as such ( regardless of hormone and testostrone management) should NOT be competing in female only competition. Let me use the Nuclear option, Stop female only sport and call it ALL just "SPORT" How do you honestly think female athletes would fare even at elite levels against their male counterparts, I can tell you , without fear of contradiction, they will get creamed!!! Darts IS a game where we CAN be inclusive but do not kid yourself that the earth is now flat and the Best women dart players are going to take the PDC by storm,( They even have a womens only series( which you are allowed to take part in) to get 2 women into the PDC's World Championship which circumvents the normal "proven ability" route( win or 2nd in tournaments or rankings) Lastly, after saying all this , Good luck on the challenge tour, You have started well, This avenue is at least honest effort!
Disregarding the arguments, he should be allowed to compete in any open, as a man.
Fair play she identifies as a women so good luck. Had the treatment etc so what's the issue? Also Heta's comments are ridiculous so she is saying that women who have gone through the menopause also have an advantage so should also be banned? Outrageous.
the dude is cheating by competing against females. its fraud and all of the officials implicated should be fired. protect females spaces and sports from male entitlement.
I agree with you, mirddes +12. If this is allowed to continue then it will spread to other sports/games and there will be no fairness whatsoever. The woke media is making a mockery out of this game.
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