“It’s a part of communication Propoganda” Peng Shuai’s interviewer from L’Equipe unsure of Peng’s safety

In what was the most sought interview for global media, Peng Shuai finally spoke in an interview that was not taken by a Chinese media outlet. This was the first interview Peng gave ever since she accused Zhang Gaoli, one of China’s senior politicians, of having forced her into a sexual relationship and assaulted her on multiple occasions.

Peng made these allegations in early November 2021 via her account on the Chinese social media platform ‘Weibo‘. The post was however taken down in just 30 minutes and the player was not heard or seen for 3 weeks from the day of her coming out. With rising safety concerns about the player, she reappeared in the public and declared that she made no such post and it is a big misunderstanding.

Finally, after 3 months since the incident, French sports daily L’Equipe managed to get an interview with Peng in Beijing where the Winter Games have begun, and with a mediator present to translate Peng’s response, journalist Marc Ventouillac along with one of his colleagues talked with Peng and answered more than the ‘8-10 pre-decided questions’ that were sent earlier to the player via the ‘help’ of Government.

“It’s impossible to say. This interview doesn’t give proof that there is no problem with Peng Shuai. It’s a part of communication, propaganda, from the Chinese Olympic Committee. With “an interview to a big European newspaper, they can show: ‘OK, there is no problem with Peng Shuai. See? Journalists (came), they can ask all the questions they wanted.

“It’s important, I think, for the Chinese Olympic Committee, for the Communist Party and for many people in China to try to show: ‘No, there is no Peng Shuai affair. There was no censorship in the questions,” said Ventouillac as reported by the Miami Herald where he talks of his suspicions on whether the interview proves that the former doubles World No. 1 is indeed safe in China.

WTA remains firm on its decision to suspend tournaments in China till Peng Shuai speaks with WTA

With the WTA unable to get an interview with her, as China, backed by its friends at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), made all possible attempts at ending the matter as soon as possible given the ‘diplomatic boycott‘ it was facing from other nations as the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were set to begin in February.

WTA was left with no other choice but to suspend all tournaments in China and Hong Kong including the WTA Finals that were scheduled to be held in China for 5 years. With China unhappy with the decision of tournaments getting suspended, they would have hoped that this interview would certainly reverse the WTA’s decision but they were proven wrong.

Soon after L’Equipe published this interview, Steve Simon, CEO of WTA, issued another statement that informed that the WTA remains firm in its position and will continue to make efforts to get in touch with Peng and only then they will change their decision to revoke the suspension.

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