Chinese journalist Shen Shiwei posted a photo allegedly sent to him via chat by tennis player Peng Shuai, who is believed to be missing. Post available in Twitter.
The pictures show a Chinese woman sitting on the floor in a room filled with stuffed animals. Also in one of the photos, Shuai poses with a cat. Users, as well as Western media, do not consider the images provided as proof of the athlete’s safety. Shiwei’s Twitter account has been tagged as a state media account.
Earlier on November 19, the head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Steve Simon said that the organization may refuse to hold competitions in China if the authorities do not disclose the whereabouts of the tennis champion.
On November 18, the Chinese state-run news channel CGTN released a letter on behalf of Shuai, in which she denied accusations against former Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Gaoli. The WTA does not believe that this is the message of the athlete herself and requires independent evidence. According to the Western media and the organization itself, the disappearance of the tennis player is due to the reaction to the accusations by the Chinese authorities.
The scandal erupted in early November. Shuai has filed charges against Gaoli on the Chinese social network Weibo. According to the tennis player, the first time a politician forced her to have sexual intercourse ten years ago. She retired in 2015.
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
