‘SPINELESS?’ ATP releases a vague statement on the Peng Shuai case
Follow Us
Peng Shuai
Peng Shuai‘s disappearance has been the talking point around the tennis circuit for almost a month. The Chinese tennis star mysteriously disappeared after she made some serious sexual allegations against a prominent leader of the Chinese Communist Party.
A day ago, WTA announced that it will be suspending play in China following Peng’s disappearance. But contrary to that, ATP has issued a very vague statement regarding the same. They didn’t announce any suspension but emphasized on an open direct communication between the player and the WTA
“The situation involving Peng Shuai continues to raise serious concerns within and beyond our sport. The response to those concerns has so far fallen short. We again urge for a line of open direct communication between the player and the WTA in order to establish a clearer picture of her situation,” the statement read.
“We know that sport can have a positive influence on society and generally believe that having a global presence gives us the best chance of creating opportunity and making an impact. We will continue to consult with our members and monitor any developments as this issue evolves.”
Weak statement from ATP?
The statement is termed ‘weak’ by many as it speaks nothing against the Chinese regime. One important thing to note is that ATP has various secondary sponsors from China so it was speculated earlier too that ATP won’t be speaking against China. Infact, the whole statement doesn’t even have the word ‘China’ in it.
Unlike ATP, WTA has already suspended events from China until further notice. “As a result, and with the full support of the WTA Board of Directors, I am announcing the immediate suspension of all WTA tournaments in China, including Hong Kong,” WTA chairman Steve Simon said.
Also read: “NOTHING TO SEE!” IOC issues shocking statement on the Peng Shuai case
Stay Updated!
Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)