Peng Shuai Case: WTA Head Threatens To Pull Out Of China Regardless Of Loss
The pressure has been mounting on the Chinese authorities to present proof that Peng Shuai is safe and being heard. Even WTA had called for credible proof. But Beijing remains adamantly silent on the entire issue.
The Women's Tennis Association's head Steve Simons threatened to pull out of China regardless of the loss incurred if the Peng Shuai Case remains unaccounted and her allegations against Zhang Gaoli, the former vice-premier of China, not investigated.
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After the tennis player from China, Peng Shuai alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Gaoli on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, she has been missing. Making the situation tenser her post on sexual assault was quickly censored and removed by the authorities.
This is the first publicly announced sexual assault accusation case against a top politician of the Chinese Communist Party.
Many tennis players from across the world are posting their worries over the case on social media. Serena William's too called for an investigation into Peng Shuai's whereabouts.
Former world number one player Serena Williams posted on Twitter, saying, "I am devasted and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. #WhereIsPengShuai."
I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6
After this, the WTA head Steve Simons made a statement on November 18, to CNN that he is willing to lose millions of dollars worth of business with China to ensure Peng Shuai's safety. "We're definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it," he said while adding that women need "to be respected and not censored."
Pressure has been mounting on the Chinese authorities to present proof that Peng Shuai is safe and being heard, the WTA has called for credible proof. However, so far Beijing has remained silent on the entire issue.
Amidst the growing tension, the state-run Global Times editor Hu Xijin tweeted that he does not believe that "Peng Shuai has received retaliation and repression speculated by foreign media for the thing people talked about."
Another state-run publication house CGTN published a screenshot of an email written by Peng to Simon and other WTA officials. The mail claimed that her previous accusation was untrue and "resting at home and everything is fine." Though Twitter users were quick to call this out and point the "awkward" language used as well as a cursor visible. This all made the post look unauthentic and led to more questions being raised on the tennis players safety.
Simon in an interview with CNN said that no one knows if she was coerced into writing one or someone else wrote it. He also stated that the association will not be relieved until they speak with her directly.
The issue remains hanging until Chinese officials decide to respond to the matter and something is heard directly from the player herself.
Peng Shuai is a former number one doubles player. She won two Grand Slam titles, one at French Open in 2014 and another in Wimbledon in 2013. These she won alongside Taiwanese Tennis Player Hsieh Su-wei.
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