Missing Or Safe? Peng Shuai Connects With Olympic Committee Head Over Video Call

All about Peng Shuai video call: After disappearing from the public eye for three weeks, Chinese Tennis Player Peng Shuai said that she is fine in a video call with the International Olympic Committee on November 22. The Committee came out with a statement revealing that Shuai spoke with the officials for 30 minutes confirming her well-being to the international organisation.

Shuai has been missing for three weeks after she posted allegations of sexual misconduct against the former vice-premier of China, Zhang Gaoli, on a Chinese social media platform.

In a post dated November 2, the player alleged sexual exploitation by Gaoli. She also stated that he forced her into a physical relationship and raped her when she went to play tennis with him and his wife at their house. The post was immediately censored by Chinese authorities and taken down from the internet. Her absence since then has sparked growing concerns over her security.

The president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach spoke with tennis player "missing" tennis star Peng Shuai.

With the Women's Tennis Association's head Steve Simons threatening to pull off from China, the White House showing concern for her safety and celebrated tennis players like Serena Williams, Naomi Osawa and others condemning the censorship, the tension has been growing over the case and China's silence over it.

Meanwhile, state-run publication houses like Global Times and CGTN have been posting pictures and emails of the player, saying that she is safe and doing well at her house. The awkward language in the email and the fact that WTA was not able to connect with the player directly, made this so-called evidence of her safety less believable.

But on Sunday, Bach in his statement said, "At the beginning of the 30-minute call, Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her wellbeing. She also explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time."

It also stated that the player wants to spend some time with her family and friends. But she will continue to be involved in tennis. The statement also included pictures of Peng Shuai speaking with the President of IOC and smiling at the camera.

Earlier on the same day as the call, a state media journalist had posted a video of the player standing with Chinese officials and smiling at a tennis tournament in Beijing. On whether the video proves that Shuai is safe, the WTA spokesperson in an interview with Reuters said that it is "insufficient" evidence of her safety. Later, the WTA also said that the recent videos "don't alleviate or address the WTA's concern about her wellbeing and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion."

Peng Shuai is a former number one doubles player, with two Grand Slam titles- French Open in 2014 and Wimbledon in 2013, to her name. This she won the said titles along with Taiwanese Tennis Player Hsieh Se-wei.

Suggested Reading:

Is Chinese Tennis Star Peng Shuai Missing? Here’s What We Know

US Expresses Concern Over Missing Chinese Tennis Player Peng Shuai

All About Tennis Star Peng Shuai, Whose #MeToo Allegations Have Rocked China

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