Where is Peng Shuai?
Tennis player's disappearance jeopardizes China
Peng Shuai at the Melbourne Open.
REUTERS - ADNAN ABIDI
Text by: Thomas Bourdeau Follow
3 min
Since her post revealing rape charges, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has disappeared.
Without news and shocked, the stars of tennis, as well as the international authorities alarm and are moved by this disappearance.
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The force strikes of Naomi Osaka -30,000 RT, 65,000 likes- added to that of Serena Williams -20,000 RT, 75,000 likes- will it be enough for the tennis player by whom the scandal arrived in China reappears? After a post accusing a senior executive of rape, tennis player Peng Shuai gave no news or made a public appearance. On Weibo (a Chinese equivalent of Twitter) the post in which she accused former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli - one of China's seven most powerful politicians from 2013 to 2018 - of raping her before making her his mistress was quickly erased but screenshots were taken. It is readable here in English.
A complete English translation of Peng Shuai's deleted post.
We owe it to her to read her full story in her own words #WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/yGNkd07j6a
- delusional raducanu stan (@RaducanuIN) November 16, 2021
The shocking revelations from the tennis player were the first targeting senior Chinese Communist Party officials since the global movement against violence against women #MeToo began.
"
This must be investigated and we must not remain silent
"
Serena Williams, the American champion, spoke: “
I am devastated and shocked (...).
I hope she is safe and will be found as soon as possible.
It needs to be investigated and we must not be silent.
"
I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai.
I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible.
This must be investigated and we must not stay silent.
Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time.
#whereispengshuai pic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6
- Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 18, 2021
But also the Japanese player, Naomi Osaka:
.
#WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/51qcyDtzLq
- NaomiOsaka 大 坂 な お み (@naomiosaka) November 16, 2021
“
Honestly, it's shocking that she's gone,
” World No.1 Novak Djokovic told reporters.
"
I hope she will be found soon, because we are not talking about a tennis match or a competition here, but we are talking about human life,
" said German Alexander Zverev.
► To read also: Has the
Chinese tennis champion Peng Shuai really reappeared?
On Twitter or Instagram, the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai is gaining momentum, even if the support of Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal is missing.
#WhereIsPengShuai pic.twitter.com/hKeiS3Q3fR
- Gerard Piqué (@ 3gerardpique) November 18, 2021
Female tennis player Peng Shuai whereabouts currently unknown after making Sexual abuse allegations against Chinese government official.
This speech gives us a reminder and some hope that things can change in the future 🙏 #WhereIsPengShuai https://t.co/eKnLCHcPLj
- Andy Murray (@andy_murray) November 19, 2021
"If we have to detach ourselves from China because it no longer sticks to our values, we have to do it even if we are a little losing economically. There are enormous sums at stake but we cannot remain silent in the face of of the human, for the purse. "
https://t.co/GTEhCUTgwe
- Quentin Moynet (@QuentinMoynet) November 18, 2021
See this post on Instagram
A post shared by Billie Jean King (@billiejeanking)
"We are completely ready to withdraw our activities from China"
The WTA (Women's Tennis Association), which manages the professional women's tennis circuit, called for "
a thorough, fair and transparent investigation into the accusations of sexual violence against Peng Shuai
".
Its CEO, Steve Simon, also threatened on CNN, to withdraw its competitions from the country: “
We are completely ready to withdraw (from China) our activities and to face all the complications which result from it.
"
Statement from Steve Simon, Chairman & CEO, WTA
WTA seeks full, fair and transparent investigation into sexual assault allegations against former Chinese leader and also calls for end of censorship against Peng Shuai.
- wta (@WTA) November 14, 2021
"
Because it is (these accusations) more important than business
" Steve Simon also questioned the authenticity of an email attributed by a Chinese media to the player, in which she intended to reassure her fate and withdrew his charges against Mr. Zhang.
"
I do not believe at all that this is the truth,
" he said, calling the message in question "
staged
".
The UN asked this Friday for proof that the Chinese tennis champion Peng Shuai is well: "
It would be important to have proof on the place where she is and to know if she is well.
And we urge that a transparent investigation be conducted into his allegations of sexual assault.
"
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