Peng Shuai reappears on TV, and he does so in an interview with L'Equipe from a hotel room in Beijing, escorted by Wang Kan, head of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
The tennis player had caused a sensation when, on 2 November last, in a message posted on social media and removed after half an hour, she had reported having been sexually abused by former vice premier Zhang Gaoli.
The former number one in the doubles championship expressed gratitude to those who have shown concern for his well-being in the past three months, even though he did not understand the reasons. "First of all I would like to thank the ATP and WTA players, all the athletes and personalities in large numbers who have cared about me," said Peng. "But I didn't think there would be such a concern and I would like to know: why such a concern?".
THE RETREAT - Peng Shuai has already met with the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, at the Winter Games. "We had dinner together on Saturday and had a good discussion and an exchange of views," said Peng, who also announced his retirement from the sport. "He asked me if I'm thinking of competing again, what my plans are, what I'm going to do and more," he added.
"I never disappeared - he continued - everyone could see me".
"HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING" - On what happened "I have already replied - he then clarified - during an interview in Shanghai as well as through an e-mail to the WTA and in other cases. This post has given rise to a huge misunderstanding on the part of the outside world. I hope that its meaning will no longer be distorted. And I also hope that no more fuss will be added. "
"I never said that someone had sexually assaulted me," added Peng, explaining that he had deleted the post on Weibo, the Twitter in Mandarin, because she "wanted" it and that the reason for her lack of communication with the WTA it was a computer malfunction.
"I would like to say first of all that feelings, sport and politics are three very distinct things. My sentimental problems, my private life, must not be involved in sport and politics. And sport must not be politicized because, when it is, most of the time it is equivalent to turning your back on the Olympic spirit and goes against the will of the world of sport and athletes ", the conclusion.
(Unioneonline / vl)