Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has expressed her concern regarding the whereabouts of Chinese player Peng Shuai, who has disappeared from the public eye since she alleged that the country’s former vice-premier sexually assault her. Peng has gained a reputation as one of China’s biggest sporting stars. She claimed in a Weibo post on 2 November that Zhang Gaoli forced her into sex and that they had an intermittent affair.
Osaka has joined others in raising concern for Peng as she had gone missing shortly after revealing she has been sexually abused. Osaka took to social media and shared a message under the hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai, which has been widely floating on social media. She wrote: “Censorship is never OK at any cost. I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and OK.”
“I’m in shock of the current situation and I’m sending love and light her way,” she added. The player who had gone missing since her allegations against the former vice-premier is a former doubles world No. 1 who secured doubles grand slams at Wimbledon and the French Open in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Furthermore, the Women’s Tennis Association disclosed that it has got confirmation from several sources, including the Chinese Tennis Association, that Peng is safe and not under any physical threat. Association believed that Peng is in Beijing but can’t verify that because neither no one recently contacted her.
In addition, the Chinese Feminist Movement official Twitter account disclosed: “Peng Shuai has disappeared from the public eye ever since she came forward and made her claims. Chinese feminists and #Metoo activists are deeply concerned about her safety.” Moreover, French tennis player Alize Cornet also urged people to raise their voices for her.