Chinese Tennis star Peng Shuai denies making sexual assault accusations

Peng Shuai, in a video posted by a Singapore media outlet, can be seen saying that she had never accused anyone of sexual assault. The video has emerged as the former World No 1’s well-being has been a concern among tennis bodies and rights group since she appeared to have alleged, on social media, that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her. 

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“First, I need to stress one point that is extremely important, I have never said or written that anyone has sexually assaulted me, I have to clearly stress this point,” Peng said in the video posted by Lianhe Zaobao, a Singapore media outlet, as per Reuters.

The Chinese Tennis star’s remarks mark the first time she has spoken about the accusations since the social media post, which was removed. 

According to Reuters, she was speaking on the sidelines of a cross-country skiing event in Shanghai. 

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The 35-year-old described the post on Weibo as a ‘private matter’. 

Peng can be seen further saying that people have many misunderstandings about her Weibo post. The Asian Games gold-winner further added that she had been living at home in Beijing without supervision. No reference to Zhang Gaoli was made in the statement. 

Earlier this month, IOC President Thomas Bach acknowledged that Peng’s situation was “fragile.”

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“You have to respect this human being. And in such a fragile situation (that) Peng Shuai is in, you have to make all the efforts to build trust. To engage in a human relationship. And this, as you can appreciate, is not easy in a video call,” he had said. 

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The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) had said that it would suspend tournaments in China immediately due to concerns over the treatment of Peng and the safety of other players.

In the video, Peng also said that she had personally written a letter last month to WTA head Steve Simon, in which she denied the allegation of assault and the English translation of it by Chinese state media was accurate.