Peng Shuai says the allegation was an “enormous misunderstanding”

Star Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai denied accusing Chinese government official of sexual assault. She also added that the concern over her well-being is based on “an enormous misunderstanding”. Here’s an update on what’s happening.

Peng Shuai dismisses claims of assault

L’Equipe, a French newspaper specializing in sports news published an interview with Penh Shuai on Monday. They spoke to her one day earlier through an hour-long interview organized by China’s Olympic Committee from a hotel in Beijing. Additionally, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also released an official statement revealing that Tomas Bach, IOC president, had dinner with Peng on a Saturday. The statement also revealed that she attended the China-Norway match along with Kristy Coventry, an IOC member. In addition to publishing her comments verbatim, the newspaper also published photos of the tennis star wearing a red tracksuit. The track-suit had the words China etched in Chinese characters on the front. 

L’Equipe had to provide the questions in advance. The Chinese Olympic committee official who sat in on the interview translated Peng’s replies from Chinese. The interview was in a question-and-answer format. When asked about a post from her official Weibo account back in November that kicked off international concern, she denied it. “Sexual assault? I never said that anyone made me submit to a sexual assault,” stated Peng. In the famous post, Peng stated that Zang Gaoli, a former Vice Premier had forced her for sex despite her refusal. Gaoli is also a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee. The post also revealed that they had sex seven years ago and noted her feelings for him. 

First interview after the post with non-Chinese media

Following the response from the public, she disappeared from public view. However, she appeared in public at promotional appearances, The interview with the French sports newspaper was her first discussion with non-Chinese media since then. “This post resulted in an enormous misunderstanding from the outside world. My wish is that the meaning of this post no longer is skewed,” stated Peng. Reporters from L’Equipe also enquired why the lengthy post disappeared from her account. To this, Peng answered that she “erased it. Why? Because I wanted to”. 

Interestingly, Peng did not directly reply if she had been in trouble with the Chinese government following the accusation. Her alternate answer expressed the government’s view on politics and sport. “I was to say first of all that emotions, sport, and politics are three separate things,” the newspaper quoted her as saying. “My romantic problems, my private life, should not be mixed with sport and politics,” stated Peng. The interviewers asked what life was like after November. Peng stated it was “It is as it should be: Nothing special”.

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