A double win for a trans darts player has enraged Martina Navratilova

There has been a strong reaction after a transgender darts player took out both men’s and women’s events on the PDC Tour.

A trans darts player has taken out a women’s competition days after winning a men’s event and it has not gone down well in some circles.

Noa-Lynn van Leuven, 27, who is from the Netherlands, triumphed in the PDC Women’s Series in Wigan, eight days after beating male rivals in a mixed event, where she scooped the £2,500 ($4,830) pot.

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The situation has led two female Dutch competitors, including world No. 2 Aileen de Graaf, to quit the national team.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who has regularly spoken out about trans women competing in female-only sports, has slammed Van Leuven’s victories on two posts on X, formerly Twitter.

“No male bodies in women’s sports please — not even in darts,” was the first post from the 18-time grand slam singles champion.

Martina Navratilova and trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Photos: Getty Images/Instagram

In a second post, the 67-year-old wrote: “Again — women get the short end of the stick. And it stinks.”

The official PDC Darts’ X account has turned off comments on a video of Van Leuven’s win, but there has been reaction to the Dutchwomen that quit the national team.

“Can the relevant organisations find a solution that works for everyone involved?” was one comment.

“Good for them. If the authorities won’t do anything about it, the women need to opt out, without them there is no competition,” wrote another.

Van Leuven regularly posts on Instagram, including after her victory on the men’s PDC Challenge Tour series.

“Speechless, that is what I am after this weekend,” she wrote. “I knew I could play darts. but winning a PDC Challenge tour on my debut is just insane!”

Current world No. 12 Anca Zijlstra, the second Dutchwoman to quit the national team, published her decision in a post on Facebook.

Trans darts competitor Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Photo: Twitter

“That moment when you’re embarrassed to come out for the Dutch team, because a biological man is playing on the women’s team, it’s time to go,” she wrote.

“I have tried to accept this but I can’t approve or validate this.

“I think that in sports there should be an equal and fair playing field. I hope with all my heart and for all women in sports that people come to their senses.”

De Graaf also commented that she couldn’t agree with Van Leuven competing against women.

“If someone doesn’t feel good in the body they were born in, I encourage everyone to change that and be happy,” she said.

“I just don’t think it’s right for a biological man to throw for the women or vice-versa. It’s either mixed or not.”

PDC chief executive Matt Porter has spoken out in support of Van Leuven, saying last year she had “qualified by right”, and the darts player told Outsports she has exceeded her own expectations.

Again- women get the short end of the stick either way. And it stinks. https://t.co/ehmlIikIQb

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) March 24, 2024

“I’m so proud of myself,” she said. “The first tournament, winning on debut — there aren’t many people who can say that. I played great over the whole weekend.

“The ambition this year is to gain experience and become a better player overall. I still have a long way to go in that.”

Van Leuven’s women’s triumph included victories over English world number one Beau Greaves and Ireland’s Katie Sheldon, in the final, to take the £2,000 winner’s pot.

Van Leuven joined the Women’s Series in 2022, a year after transitioning.

Transgender darts players must meet stringent testosterone levels for at least 12 months and cannot change gender identity for at least four years.

– with The Sun

Originally published as A double win for a trans darts player has enraged Martina Navratilova