INTERNATIONAL: Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts have been a matter of international concern for weeks, attended a tennis tournament and autographed balls for children in Beijing on Sunday. This is according to the videos shared on social media. Peng can be seen among guests at the Fila Kids Junior Tennis Challenger Finals, dressed in dark blue jacket and white trousers, waving to the audience at the tournament organized by China Open.
The former doubles world number one had not been seen or heard from publicly since she said on Chinese social media on 2 November that former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli had coerced her into sex and they later had an on-off consensual relationship. Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented on her allegation. Peng's social media post was quickly deleted and the topic has been blocked from discussion on China's heavily censored internet.
World tennis bodies have expressed concern, with the Women's Tennis Association threatening to pull tournaments out of China. The United States and Britain have called for evidence of Peng's whereabouts and safety. The photographs and video footage of Peng that emerged on Sunday remain "insufficient" and do not address the WTA's concerns, a spokesperson for the group told Reuters by email.
PHOTO: PENG SHUAI AUTOGRAPHING OVERSIZED TENNIS BALLS AT TENNIS EVENT
