Peng Shuai “will appear in public soon,” says director of official Chinese newspaper | Other Sports | sports

The tennis player Peng Shuai “is at home and will appear in public soon”, The director of a Chinese newspaper affiliated with the Government assured today, amid growing international concerns about the player’s whereabouts.

Citing his own “sources”, Hu Xijin from the official gazette Global Times, tweeted today that Peng “has been staying at home for the past few days because she didn’t want to be bothered. “

“He will appear in public soon and participate in some activities,” Hu said. in statements that follow alleged images of the tennis player released last night -also on Twitter, half banned in the Asian country- in which, surrounded by stuffed animals, she wished for a “happy weekend.”

It’s about the first images that appear of the tennis player since the concern about your disappearance more than two weeks ago, although it is impossible to determine when and where the photographs were taken.

In the images, retweeted by journalist Shen Shiwei of the state broadcaster CGTN, you can see the tennis player surrounded by stuffed animals wishing a “happy weekend” through the social network Wechat.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) that claimed “verifiable evidence” that the player is safe, has not yet ruled on these images.

The former number one in the world in doubles is missing since last November 2 accuse former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually abusing her.

Also the ATP, through its president Andrea Gaudenzi, pointed out on Friday that the tennis player’s safety is the priority right now and that it is “vital” that there is some direct contact with her.

Formerly the television network CGTN He sent another alleged statement from the tennis player in which he denied the abuses and assured that he was fine.

Both the WTA and other organizations such as Amnesty International and the UN have questioned the veracity of that statement.

Earlier this month, Peng, 35 and current number 189 in the world, claimed through her Weibo social network profile that 75-year-old Zhang had sexually abused her, in a post that disappeared from the internet twenty minutes later.

Any reference to the tennis player or the case remains completely banned on social networks and the official Chinese media.

Peng led the world doubles rankings in 2012 and won Wimbledon and Roland Garros, taking her to the pinnacle of tennis in her country. (D)