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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Liew at Alexandra Palace

Noa-Lynn van Leuven blazes trail and feels the love at Alexandra Palace

Noa-Lynn van Leuven throws on the way to losing her first round match against Kevin Doets.
Noa-Lynn van Leuven was beaten 3-1 by Kevin Doets in the first round of the World Darts Championship. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

From every corner of the West Hall, from the stands to the table seats, came a ringing of boos. Up on the stage Noa-Lynn van Leuven held her head high. Tried to maintain her focus amid the cacophony of derision and disdain being flung her way by the crowd.

Now, before your favourite patriotic news outlet gets too excited, this was no act of protest, or prejudice, or cruelty. Van Leuven was simply paying the public penalty that awaits all players when they start a leg with two 180s and then miss the seventh dart of an attempted nine-dart finish. Just a normal thing that happens all the time, and is really no big deal.

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