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Top tennis players push China for answers on Peng Shuai’s whereabouts

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Naomi Osaka, from Team Japan, serves in her third round match of Women’s Singles against Marketa Vondrousova (Team Czech Republic) on the fourth day of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The event took place at Ariake Tennis Park on 7/7/2021 in Tokyo.

David Ramos | Getty Images

Peng Shuai disappeared, leaving behind some world-famous tennis players.

So far it’s a standoff with little visible impact as tennis players like Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic — joined by tennis governing bodies, human rights groups, retired players, and several athletes’ lobbies— try to turn their profiles into power.

Peng vanished after he made sexual assault allegations against Zhang Gaoli, former vice-premier and member of all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee. He was also a lieutenant to General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Some athletes may feel pressure points.

China will host the Beijing Winter Olympics in just two and a half months. a diplomatic boycott over allegations of crimes against humanity involving at least 1 million Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. NBA player Enes Kanter has been the most outspoken in defense of the Uyghurs, calling Xi a “brutal dictator.”

Peng’s story is exceptional. Her star status as an athlete is unmatched and she has credibility unlike any other woman in China. Peng’s silence reflects the Communist Party’s resolve to silence criticism and prevent organized public responses.

Because they are well-known, athletes are sensitive to politics. China’s ruling party makes public its triumphs, including those of Peng, a three time Olympian, to show it’s making China stronger again.

China’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly disavowed Any knowledge about the matter. Zhao Lijian (Minister of Commerce) told reporters on Friday that this is not a diplomatic matter and that she was unaware or aware of the circumstances.

Shuai Peng, China’s Women’s Singles champion against Nao Hibino from Japan during day 2 of 2020 Australian Open Melbourne Park. This was in Melbourne on January 21st 2020.

Fred Lee | Getty Images

Peng posted a long social media message on Nov. 2, in which she claimed she was forced to have sexual relations with Zhang three years back. Peng quickly removed the post from her verified Weibo account. Weibo is a popular Chinese social media site. The internet shared screenshots of Peng’s explosive claims.

Ever since, the weight has been maintained by athletes.

Osaka tweeted, “Censorship never OK at any price,” adding #WhereIsPengShuai.

Williams stated, “This needs to be investigated. We must not remain silent.”

This is very disturbing. Djokovic stated that a person was missing at the ATP Finals held in Turin, Italy. The whole tennis community must support her and her family. It would not be normal to have tournaments in China without solving this problem.

The unwavering support from the Women’s Tennis Association’s chairman, Steve Simon and CEO have given players the confidence they need. Simon threatened to withdraw the WTA events from China. This means that there will be almost 12 events next year including the WTA final.

Simon spoke out in a CNN interview, stating that “there are many times today in our world when you get into problems like this.”

We are willing to take over our company and handle all of the issues that may arise because we believe in it. . . It is larger than the business.

Peng was defended by The Professional Tennis Players Association. who is known as a fearless competitor.

The association stated that “we must unite” and would not take any action until evidence supporting Peng Shuai’s health is presented to the public.

U.S. Secretary of State Wendy Sherman tweets: “We are deeply worried by reports that Peng Shuai, a tennis player, appears to have disappeared, and join the calls to the PRC for independent, verifiable evidence of her whereabouts. All women deserve that reports of sexual assault are taken seriously and probed.

Liz Throssell is a spokesperson for U.N.’s Geneva human rights office. She stated Friday that it called for “an investigation in full transparency into her allegation about sexual assault.”

Global Athlete (an advocacy group) has asked the Switzerland-based International Olympic Committee for permission to suspend China’s Olympic Committee until Peng is safe.

Global Athlete chief Rob Koehler released a statement saying that Peng must be located by the IOC to provide proof and allow for safe passage from China.

Peng is a former Olympian but the IOC remains silent. The IOC is a business that specializes in sports and derives 91% its income through sponsorships or broadcast rights. However, it prefers to present itself as a nongovernmental organization that is responsible for defending high-minded ideas. This includes “promoting a peaceful society concerned about the preservation of dignity.” which it cites in its Olympic Charter.

Kirsty Cooperry, who heads an IOC’s Athletes Commission, which is meant to advocate for the rights of Olympic athletes has yet not spoken out. Although the IOC has always said that athletes are their top priority, there is increasing pressure on athletes to take a bigger share of IOC’s multi-billion dollar pie.

“Experience has demonstrated that silent diplomacy provides the greatest opportunity for finding a solution to questions such as these.” The IOC issued a statement. This explains why IOC won’t comment further at this point.

The government also stated that it had received assurances from Peng’s safety.

Human Rights Watch stated that it was “astonishing” that the IOC accepted the government’s assurances at the cost of a female Olympian who made grave allegations.

The World Olympians Association refused to make a statement. The World Olympians Association claims it represents 100,000 Olympians. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. founded it. He is responsible for IOC preparations to host the Beijing Olympics, which will begin February 4. Thomas Bach, IOC President, is its honorary president.

Koehler, Global Athletes said to AP that the IOC had more power than any other organisation with the pending Winter Olympic Games. That should be used immediately. The IOC is protecting athletes, and the IOC has been preparing for these Games.

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