Transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven questions future in sport
Transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has admitted to questioning the future of a career in the sport after being excluded from WDF women’s competitions, reports BritPanorama.
The Dutch star, known as ‘The Duchess’, faced uncertainty following a new regulation that bars transgender competitors from the women’s game. However, Van Leuven has since found renewed determination and is now eligible to participate in open category events.
“It does motivate me to become a better player again,” the 29-year-old told Oche180.com. “It is weird to not be able to play the women anymore in the WDF,” she added, noting that she now focuses on PDC events and Dutch tournaments in the open ranking, where she finds enjoyment.
Van Leuven was made aware of the rule change in July when delegates voted during the Europe Cup in Slovakia. The clarity the ruling provided brought her some relief. “When the ruling came out, I was like, at least it was clear now. I actually want to give it a shot now to play in the open and maybe some WDF tournaments,” she stated.
She competed at the World Championship in December, where she faced a challenging first-round match against two-time world champion Peter Wright and suffered a 3-0 defeat. Before this, Van Leuven had stepped away from darts due to mental health difficulties, and despite facing significant challenges, she remains committed to the sport.
“I just enjoy the game of darts too much. I keep coming back to it,” she expressed. The past year has been particularly challenging, with limited tournament participation, but she has successfully claimed six PDC Women’s Series titles across the previous two seasons.
Van Leuven is set to represent the Netherlands at the upcoming 4 Nations Cup, which begins in a fortnight. Reflecting on her experience playing against Wright, she shared a positive note: “I actually enjoyed myself on that stage playing Peter. He was really kind on the stage and behind it. I think the crowd was amazing as well.”
As her focus shifts towards new opportunities in the sport, Van Leuven’s journey remains emblematic of the ongoing dialogue surrounding inclusion and competition in athletics.
