Chinese language tennis star Peng Shuai has advised a Singapore newspaper that she by no means mentioned she wrote of getting been sexually assaulted, regardless of a November social media put up attributed to her that accused a former prime Communist Get together official of getting compelled her into intercourse.
The Lianhe Zaobao Chinese language-language newspaper posted video of Peng it says was taken Sunday in Shanghai through which she mentioned she has been primarily staying at residence in Beijing however was free to come back and go as she selected.
“Initially, I wish to emphasize one thing that is essential. I’ve by no means mentioned that I wrote that anybody sexually assaulted me. I want to emphasise this level very clearly,” Peng advised the newspaper’s reporter.
The reporter didn’t ask how or why the prolonged and extremely detailed Nov. 2 put up appeared or whether or not Peng’s account had been hacked.
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The paper mentioned it interviewed Peng at a promotional occasion for the Beijing Winter Olympic Video games which start Feb. 4. She was filmed on the remark deck of a facility the place she watched a freestyle ski competitors alongside former NBA star Yao Ming and different Chinese language sports activities figures.
Peng dropped out of sight after the accusation in opposition to former vice premier Zhang Gaoli briefly appeared on her verified Weibo social media earlier than being swiftly eliminated. Display screen photographs of the put up had been shared throughout the web, drawing widespread concern about Peng’s security from politicians, fellow tennis stars and the World Tennis Affiliation, which introduced it was suspending all occasions in China indefinitely.
Following the posting, the three-time Olympian and former Wimbledon champion appeared standing beside a tennis court docket in Beijing, waving and signing oversize commemorative tennis balls for youngsters. The overseas arm of state TV additionally issued a press release in English attributed to Peng that retracted her accusation in opposition to Zhang.
WTA chief government Steve Simon questioned the emailed assertion’s legitimacy whereas others mentioned it solely elevated their concern about her security. Within the Lianhe Zaobao interview, Peng mentioned she wrote the assertion in Chinese language and it was later translated into English however that there was no substantive distinction in that means between the 2 variations.
Zhang, 75, was a member of the occasion’s omnipotent Politburo Standing Committee till 2018 and a prime lieutenant to president and occasion chief Xi Jinping. He has not appeared in public or commented on Peng’s accusation.
Simon mentioned the transfer to place a halt to the tour’s play in China, together with Hong Kong, got here with the backing of the WTA board of administrators, gamers, tournaments and sponsors. It was the strongest public stand in opposition to China taken by a sports activities physique _ and one that might price the WTA thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
Simon has made repeated requires China to hold out an inquiry into the 35-year-old Peng’s accusations and to permit the WTA to speak immediately with the previous No. 1-ranked doubles participant and proprietor of titles at Wimbledon and the French Open.
The IOC has taken a distinct tack, with prime officers saying they consider Peng is ok after video chatting together with her.
The controversy surrounding Peng has added to protests over Beijing’s internet hosting of the Winter Video games due to the federal government’s human rights abuses.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
