Tennis association suspends tournaments in China

Decision taken out of concern for Peng and safety of other players

WASHINGTON: The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) drew criticism yesterday from China for its decision to suspend all tournaments in the nation out of concern for the well-being of star player Peng Shuai and the safety of other players.

Unconvinced by Peng’s public appearances since a scandal broke a month ago over her sexual assault accusations against Chinese former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, the WTA said it wanted assurances of her wellbeing and has sought an investigation.

Its decision comes as Beijing prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February.

Global rights groups and others have called for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics over China’s human rights record.

Many leading figures in the tennis world applauded the USheadquartered tour’s decision to walk away from one of its biggest markets, though it could cost the WTA hundreds of millions of dollars in broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.

“I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault,” WTA chief executive Steve Simon said in a statement.

“Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in

China in 2022.”

Asked about the matter at a regular briefing in Beijing yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin did not directly comment on the WTA’s move but said China “opposes the politicisation of sports”.

The whereabouts of Peng, a former world number one doubles player, became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week public absence after she posted a message on social media early last month accusing Zhang of sexual assault.

Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the government have commented on Peng’s accusation and the topic has been blocked from direct discussion on China’s heavily censored internet.

Although Beijing has remained largely silent over the scandal and authorities have blocked discussions of the topic on China’s heavily censored internet, the Global Times newspaper published by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily, took aim at the WTA yesterday.

In an editorial on its Twitter account, which is not accessible within China, the paper accused the WTA of “bringing politics into women’s tennis”, categorising it among “betrayers of the Olympic spirit”.

“Some forces in the West are instigating a boycott against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.”

The International Olympic Committee said it held a second video call with Peng on Wednesday, after one late last month.

“We have offered her wide-ranging support, will stay in regular touch with her, and have already agreed on a personal meeting in January,” it said in a statement yesterday.

Peng appeared to be “safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in”, it said. – Reuters