Deta Hedman withdraws from English team ahead of WDF Europe Cup

Deta Hedman has opted out of the WDF Europe Cup. The event is a nations tournament for European darts associations affiliated with the World Darts Federation (WDF) and will be played in Slovakia from Sept. 25 to 28.

Hedman has been one of the leading women on the England team since the 1990s and had also assumed the role of captain. Over the past 30 years, Hedman has won several awards with the English team. At the WDF Europe Cup, she won the singles tournament in 1994. She was also a four-time winner in the pairs (1994, 1996, 2018 and 2022), won the team tournament four times (2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022) and became champion with the ladies six times (1994, 1996, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022).

At the WDF World Cup, "The Heart of Darts" has enjoyed similar successes. In 2013, Hedman took the singles title at the WDF World Cup, and in 1995, 2011, 2013 and 2013, she won the pairs tournament with a compatriot. In 2015 and 2019, Hedman captured the title in the team event with the women's team, and in 1995, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2023 there was gold for England in the country standings.

Hedman has not disclosed why she is not competing in the WDF Europe Cup. In a message on Facebook, she announced that "It's breaking my heart to do so. I will be posting later the reasons for this." Hedman further states that "the well being of England Darts is paramount." However, several sources tell Dartsnews.com that Hedman's cancellation has to do with the very likely selection of Noa-Lynn van Leuven for the Dutch women's team.

Hedman is considered an outspoken opponent of the admission of transgenders to the women's circuit. In May, the 64-year-old Englishwoman caused a commotion by withdrawing from the WDF Denmark Open when she was set to face off against Van Leuven in the quarterfinals of that tournament.

Should Hedman face Van Leuven at the WDF Europe Cup, there was a very plausible chance that Hedman would retire again. This would result in her damaging the chances of her English teammates with an eye on the overall standings.

By the way, Hedman does plan to travel to Slovakia to encourage her compatriots. Moreover, she indicates that she wants to pay for that trip herself.