The former world number 1, Martina Navartilova, has branded those responsible for the Australian Open as “cowards” for withdrawing and banning fans from wearing shirts with the slogan ‘Where is Shuai Peng?’ in support and memory of the Chinese tennis player.
navartilova, champion of 18 Grand Slams, who in her youth escaped for political reasons from Czechoslovakia to the United States, where she became a national, has criticized the decision in an interview on Tennis Channel, arguing that the organizers of the Australian Grand Slam were bowing to pressure from the Chinese government. the distillery Baijiu Luzhu Laojiao and the Chinese mattress company By Rucci They are sponsors of the tournament, which also has large audiences in China.
weak posture
“It’s pathetic and very, very cowardly. Sport has always been at the forefront of social problems. This is not a political protest, it is a declaration of human rights”. navartilova He was very forceful in assessing the situation. “The WTA has been tough on this issue and the players are taking risks,” she stressed. Women’s tennis has decided to suspend this season all tournaments in Chinese territory that were part of its financing. Navratilova criticized the “weak” stance of the ATP as well as that of the IOC: “We already know where it is.”
The legendary tennis player of Czechoslovak origin, @Martina Navratilova has criticized the organizers of the Australian Open for banning T-shirts supporting Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai from spectators. Navratilova called his behavior cowardly (00:00-00:38 in the video). https://t.co/HjMV97o7qE
– Radio Prague International (@RadioPragaES) January 24, 2022
The situation of Peng became a cause for concern in November when, via social media, he said that a former Chinese vice premier, zhang gaoliHe had sexually assaulted her in the past. After that post, he was absent from public view for nearly a month.
Later, at the end of December, the tennis player was seen in some events with other Chinese athletes to promote the Beijing Winter Olympics which will begin in 10 days, to announce that she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her. That his complaint on the networks had been misinterpreted.
official response
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australian tennis he reiterated his stance on Monday, adding that Peng’s safety remained his top concern. “We continue to work with the WTA and the global tennis community to do everything we can to ensure their welfare . Our work is ongoing and through the appropriate channels,” a spokesperson for the tournament said in a statement to Reuters.
“China has always opposed the politicization of sports, such behavior is unpopular and will not succeed,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated Monday. Zhao Lijiang, referring to the t-shirts of Peng in Melbourne Park.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.