WTA Voices for Peng Shuai While Canceling Tournaments in China

It’s reported on the 25th, Steve Simon, Chairman and CEO of Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) said that the WTA is still working to communicate with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the issues regarding the personal freedom, health, and safety of the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. Meanwhile, the WTA will be canceling all international women’s tennis tournaments held in Communist China this year.
In November last year, Peng Shuai, a former world-renowned Chinese tennis player, posted on social media accusing Zhang Gaoli, a former member of the Standing Committee of the CCP, of sexually assaulting her. After that, Peng Shuai was strictly restricted from her personal freedom by the CCP. The incident drew great attention from the WTA and led to a resolute decision last December to suspend all Women tournaments in China, despite commercial losses of hundreds of millions of dollars. Although Peng Shui was forced to deny Zhang Gaoli’s sexual assault allegations during the Beijing Winter Olympics in February this year, the WTA still insisted on investigating the incident and asked the CCP to allow Peng Shuai to meet and communicate with the WTA officials.
Steve Simon believes that it is impossible for the CCP to avoid or cover up the truth of the incident by controlling Peng Shuai’s freedom. He said that the cancellation of the games in China is their dedication to finding an effective resolution to the issues regarding Peng Shuai and truly protect the personal freedom and safety of the player.