Chinese tennis star
Fall Peng Shuai: WTA suspends tournaments in China
Peng Shuai was apparently forced to retract allegations of sexual abuse against a top Chinese politician
© Wu Hong / DPA
The international women’s tennis association, WTA, has canceled all tennis tournaments in China for the time being. That announced boss Steve Simon. The reason is that China remains immobile in the case of pressured tennis player Peng Shuai.
Due to the situation around tennis player Peng Shuai, the WTA women’s tennis tour has suspended all tournaments in China and Hong Kong. This was announced by WTA boss Steve Simon on Wednesday. “I do not see with a clear conscience how we can ask our athletes to compete there if Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely,” said the WTA chief in a statement. Peng Shuai is apparently being pressured to back up her allegations of sexual assault. “I am very sorry that it has come to this,” said Simon.
Peng Shuai, the former world number one in doubles, published allegations of sexual assault by a top Chinese politician on the Weibo social network in early November. The 35-year-old’s post was deleted soon after. Since then, athletes, politicians and human rights activists have expressed concern for the tennis player’s well-being.
Barbara Rittner praises WTA
Germany’s women’s tennis boss Barbara Rittner praised the WTA for the China boycott: “This is a consistent and exemplary act. Everything must be done to guarantee the well-being of the players. This is also a sign to the younger generation that the WTA assumes responsibility. I am proud of the WTA, “said the 48-year-old former team boss, who is Head of Women’s Tennis in the German Tennis Association, of the” Süddeutsche Zeitung “.
China’s leaders would have left the WTA with no other choice. He continues to hope that the requests will be heard and that the Chinese authorities will take steps to legitimately address this issue, Simon said. “Given the current situation, I am also very concerned about the risks that all of our players could be exposed to if we were to hold events in China in 2022,” the WTA said.
China is a major sponsor of the Ladies Tour with a number of events. The case is becoming even more explosive due to the upcoming Winter Games in Beijing in February and the already ongoing criticism of the host country.