'Man in a ladies event' -

ESBJERG, Denmark (TND) — Semi-pro darts player Deta Hedman forfeited a match at the Denmark Open darts competition Saturday after being matched with a transgender opponent.

Hedman took to X before the competition to share her support of defending women’s athletics.

“People on FB been changing their profile pic to this,” Hedman noted of an image reading “protect women’s sports.”

“Getting great support,” she added.

At the competition, Hedman was set to face openly transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuve in the quarterfinals, according to Live Darts. Rather than play the match, Hedman bowed out. Reporter Phil Barrs, who was covering the event, wrote via X Hedman made the decision because she “was in ill and in pain.” However, Hedman fired back to set the record straight.

“No fake illness I said I wouldn't play a man in a ladies event [sic],” she wrote. “Don't listen to @phillbarrs he knows sweet fa, nor does his reliable source [sic].”

Barrs decried the comment, calling for Hedman to be reprimanded.

“Having the debate around Trans athletes in Women’s sport is one thing,” he said. “But this comment calling a trans woman a man is simply transphobic and should be addressed by the sporting authorities as there should be no place for it.”

Women’s sports activist Riley Gaines cheered the move by Hedman, offering to pay her the tournament’s prize money.

“I must get into contact with Deta Hedman,” Gaines wrote. “I want to pay her the prize money she missed out on, just as @SethDillon and I did with billiards player Kim O'Brien for taking the same stand. Bravery deserves to be rewarded.”

Allowing athletes to compete based on gender identity has been a hot button topic for advocates of women’s sports. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., in March blasted Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., for becoming emotional over her bill prohibiting biological men from competing against biological women in Olympic and amateur sports during a hearing.

“It was highly inappropriate and I also felt it was largely staged,” Rep. Hageman said at the time.

The National Desk (TND) reached out to van Leuve for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. This story will be updated if a response is received.

Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.

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