Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

WTA Demands China Allow Contact With Missing Chinese Grand Slam Winning Tennis Player Peng Shuai
Red State ^ | 11/18/2021 | Jerry Wilson

Posted on 11/18/2021 10:05:39 PM PST by SeekAndFind


PENG SHUAI and CCP OFFICIAL ZHANG GAO LI

When one thinks of no-nonsense, hard-nosed sports, tennis isn’t going to be the first that comes to mind. Nevertheless, it is tennis, specifically the WTA, presently making a stand against China, the likes of which neither the NBA nor the IOC would ever consider.

The focal point for this standoff is Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. Shuai, who has won two Grand Slam doubles titles, has not been seen since making a sexual assault allegation on November second against former senior Chinese Communist Party official Zhang Gaoli. As reported by The Age:

In her Weibo message, Peng claimed to have had a decade-long, on-and-off relationship with Zhang, who is married. She alleged the relationship involved sexual contact on several occasions, but that one of those sexual encounters had not been consensual.

“That afternoon, I was very afraid. I didn’t expect it to be like this,” she wrote. “I didn’t agree to have sex with you and kept crying that afternoon.”

Earlier today, Chinese state-affiliated media circulated a message supposedly from Shuai. In it, Shuai (or whoever wrote it) insisted everything is fine, the sexual assault charge was bogus, and she’s just home chillin’. The number of people concerned about Shuai’s welfare believing the message was from her is currently holding steady at zero.

The concern for Shuai’s well-being extends to the very top of tennis. Again as reported by The Age:

WTA chief executive and chairman Steve Simon responded soon afterwards by saying the post had only heightened his fears for Peng’s safety.

“The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication, to no avail,” Simon said in a statement.

Unlike the aforementioned NBA and IOC, the WTA is neither playing footsie nor re-enacting the three brass monkeys with China. It has reportedly threatened to pull all 10 of the tournaments currently scheduled for China in 2022 if it cannot speak directly with Shuai. Also, unlike the NBA, major tennis players such as Novak Djokovic are speaking up and out:

“I did hear about it a week ago. Honestly, it’s shocking that she’s missing, more so that it’s someone that I have seen on the tour in the previous years quite a few times,” the Serb said after his win over Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals on Monday.

“It’s not much more to say than hope that she will be found, that she’s okay. It’s terrible … I can imagine just how her family feels that she’s missing.”

While praying for Ms. Shuai’s safety, it’s also good to see that there is at least one sport dedicated to playing with balls that actually has some when it comes to China.



TOPICS: Politics; Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: china; pengshuai; tennis; wta

1 posted on 11/18/2021 10:05:39 PM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

china doesn’t care if they pick up their balls and play elsewhere


2 posted on 11/18/2021 10:13:24 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson