Disappointed Billie Jean King expresses her disapproval with Wimbledon decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes
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Billie Jean King and Daniil Medvedev
Former World No. 1 and 6-time Wimbledon champion Billie Jean King has issued a statement opposing the decision of the LTA and the Wimbledon to ban all Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in the Grass court events and the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
The decision from the two bodies in the UK comes in the light of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia that began on 24th February when Russian forces started their attempt to invade the European country. The UK has been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine providing them with arms and other necessary things and the decision to ban also comes in showing support to the war-torn nation.
BJK has been one of the most strong opinionated personalities in the tennis world right from her playing days and in the statement she issued, she brought the founding principles in which WTA was formed and how the ban by Wimbledon and LTA is a clear flouting and whatsoever the circumstances, such a ban should not have been imposed.
“The decision of the LTA and the AELTC regarding the Russian and Belarusian players at this year’s tournament was a difficult and complex undertaking, and I appreciate the challenges and pressures they are facing. One of the guiding principles of the founding of the WTA was that any girl in the world, if she was good enough, would have a place to compete. I stood by that in 1973 and I stand by that today.
“I cannot support the banning of individual athletes from any tournament, simply because of their nationality. Tennis is stronger when we stand together, and our continued support of the Tennis Plays for Peace initiative, which provides meaningful financial support and resources to Ukraine, needs to be our focus,” wrote BJK in her statement on Twitter.
Billie Jean King joins a long list of players to issue a statement on the ban
While the statement by BJK remains her personal opinion, it was not well taken by many of the netizens who brought some of the ugly news from Ukraine to her attention including the crimes of the war by Russian soldiers. With the globe divided on the decision to ban the Russian and Belarusian athletes, it was a similar case in BJK’s tweets as well. Neverthless, BJK has been one of the many players who have voiced their opinions on it.
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Sarthak Shitole
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