Tennis Stars Back “Bold” WTA Move to suspend Chinese events in Peng Shuai

Tennis stars backed the WTA’s decision to suspend its tournament in China over concerns about Peng Shuai as demand for watching other sports increased on Thursday. The women’s tennis tour made a decision on what its chairman called “serious suspicion” about the safety of Chinese player Peng, who accused the leader of the Communist Party of sexual exploitation. Steve Simon, president and CEO of the Women’s Tennis Association, reiterated his call for China to conduct a “full and transparent investigation – without censorship” of Peng’s allegation that former deputy prime minister Zhang Gaoli “forced” him into sex.

The WTA’s decision to suspend tournaments in China, including Hong Kong, received immediate support from the biggest names in tennis, including men’s number one player Novak Djokovic and women’s tour founder Billie Jean King.

It could potentially cost the WTA hundreds of millions of dollars because China is one of its largest markets.

Djokovic called the WTA’s attitude “very bold and very bold,” while 12-time Grand Slam winner King tweeted that the WTA “is on the right side of history.”

Tennis player Martina Navratilova directly challenged the International Olympic Committee to respond and wrote on Twitter that “so far you can hardly hear you !!!”

China will host the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

“This is the bold attitude of Steve Simon and the WTA, where we put the principle above the $ and defend women everywhere and especially for Peng Shua,” Navratilova added.

Pam Shriver, another retired tennis star and now well-known commentator, urged other organizations to follow WTA’s lead.

“What other human rights, sports, cultural and political organizations join and cooperate with the WTA?” american tweeted.

“It’s a difficult road, but right.”

Peng, 35, the champion of the Wimbledon and French Open doubles, has been at the center of serious international concern for the past month.

He was not seen for nearly three weeks after he claimed in Weibo, like Twitter, that now 70-year-old Zhang forced him into sex during years of on-off relationship.

His accusations, released on November 2, were quickly removed from the Internet in China, and his allegations and online discussions about them continue to be censored. Zhang has not responded.

Peng’s allegations against him were the first time China’s # MeToo movement has touched the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party.

An email addressed to Peng then rowed the accusation and was later filmed at a tennis event in Beijing.

He also took part in a video call on 21 November with IOC President Thomas Bach, but he remains concerned about how free he is.

Uncertainty over Peng has once again raised demands for diplomatic boycotts at the Beijing Games over the human rights situation in China.

“In good conscience, I don’t understand how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has apparently been pressured to deny his allegations of sexual violence,” Simon said in a WTA press release. decision.

“Given the current situation, I am also very concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff may face if we host events in China in 2022.”

Simon said he still had “serious doubts about whether he was free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation.”

The European Union, the United Nations, the United States and Britain have all demanded proof of Peng’s whereabouts and well-being.

Beijing has remained mostly strict, saying only that Peng’s situation has been “maliciously deceived.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday that the country “strongly opposes acts of politicizing sport” in a brief response to reporters.

Next year’s WTA schedule had not yet been announced, but China is unlikely to host major international sports – except for the Olympics – in the near future due to its tight coronavirus policy.

In 2019, China will host 10 WTA events with a total prize pool of more than $ 30 million.

Speaking on CNN, Simon said he had not been able to contact Peng directly despite several attempts.

Simon was asked if the corporate sponsors of the Olympics or other sports with large companies in China, such as the NBA, had contacted the WTA, Simon replied: “We have not heard of partners participating in the Olympics and other Chinese properties.

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“Our position here is very, very clear: I can only imagine what kind of feelings and emotions are likely to go through Peng right now.

“We hope he feels this is not his fault and that we are very proud of him.”