A reporter for a Chinese state media posted a new, unauthenticated video and photo of tennis player Peng Shuai, whose fate worries the tennis community on Sunday, December 19, after her accusations against a tennis player. former top Chinese leader.
Qingqing Chen, reporter at Global Times, tweeted a seven-second video showing former world number 1 doubles chatting – unmasked – with former basketball star Yao Ming. According to the reporter, the video was sent to her by a friend and was shot during a Nordic skiing promotion event in Shanghai.
Peng Shuai accused former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli in early November of forcing him to have sex three years ago. Her message, broadcast on a social network, was promptly censored and the 35-year-old player disappeared from radar screens for three weeks.
A friend sent me this video showing Chinese tennis star player Peng Shuai talked with Yao Ming, one of the most bel… https://t.co/Pbd6sL4Hyh
The photo released on Sunday shows Peng Shuai posing with Yao Ming and two other Chinese sports figures: sailor Xu Lijia and former table tennis player Wang Liqin. Behind them, we can see the Shanghai Yangpu Bridge and a banner “FIS Cross-Country Skiing China City Tour”. The Shanghai stage of the Nordic ski circuit took place on Saturday, according to state media CGTN.
The authenticity of the evidence still in doubt
Twitter is not normally accessible in China. Only people with a VPN system can use it. Many diplomats and state media, however, have an account to ensure a Chinese presence.
Since the disappearance of Peng Shuai in mid-November, the WTA, the body governing the women’s world circuit, has canceled all its tournaments in China and calls for a transparent investigation into the player’s accusations.
Chinese media have repeatedly published photos of the player, as well as a screenshot of an email attributed to her and where it is written ” everything is fine “, but the authenticity of which raises significant doubts.
The player also had a half-hour videoconference chat with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach. But the WTA and many tennis personalities continue to demand more transparency from China on the fate of the young woman.
