Noa-Lynn van Leuven has fired back at those who have criticised her participation in women’s darts competitions. The 29-year-old transgender player, who was assigned male at birth in the Netherlands, made history last year by becoming the first Dutch woman to reach the World Darts Championship.

Despite claiming the opening set against Kevin Doets in her maiden first-round clash, ‘The Dutchess’ ultimately crashed out 3-1. The World Darts Federation (WDF) introduced a ban on transgender competitors from their tournaments earlier this summer.

Yet they remain eligible to take part in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, with no signs of policy changes on the horizon.  In a conversation with Nu.nl, Van Leuven stood firm on her stance and insisted she refuses to be drawn into endless discussions about her identity ahead of another tilt at the World Championship.

“I meet all the rules. Full stop. I’m not spending all day explaining who I am,” she said. The Netherlands Olympic committee NOC*NSF recently published draft guidance for sports bodies regarding transgender athletes.

It indicated that “fair competition” may not always be achievable due to possible physical disparities in certain sports globally. Van Leuven expressed her dissatisfaction with the public portrayal of darts as a physical sport rather than a skill-based one.

“The guideline is about grassroots sport, not elite sport,” she stated. “And darts isn’t about physical strength. No one wins because they’ve got a stronger backswing.”

Currently, the PDC has not hinted at any changes to its eligibility criteria. However, Van Leuven conceded that the situation could evolve in the future.

“If that happens, they’d basically be deciding my retirement,” she remarked. “It wouldn’t just affect me – it would affect the entire trans community.”

After a challenging period marked by online harassment, mental health struggles and personal lows, Van Leuven has made a triumphant return by securing her place at the World Championship in December. This achievement comes only months after she confessed to doubting her will to live.

“A few months ago, I genuinely didn’t know if I’d still be around the following week,” she confessed. “The fact I can now enjoy standing behind the board again feels like a miracle.”

Van Leuven’s ordeal led her to grapple with severe mental health issues. She took a break from her job and fell into a depressive state.

“I spent weeks in bed, watching shows and wondering what the point was,” the 1996-born dart player admitted. “Everything felt dark. I couldn’t see a way out.”

She is now back on a more positive path and is rediscovering that hunger again. “Bit by bit, the hunger came back,” Van Leuven explained. “First practising, then local events – and now the World Championship again. I never would’ve dreamed of that a few months ago.”