Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming mentioned on Monday that tennis star Peng Shuai, who grew to become a priority after a former senior politician was accused of sexual harassment, was in good spirits when he attended an occasion final month.
“She looked good. We chatted happily,” Yao mentioned on Monday when requested about his impressions of Peng at a cross-country snowboarding occasion in Beijing they each attended final month in Shanghai.
The Women’s Tennis Federation has suspended the match in China as a result of it says there are considerations over Peng’s security, which it says has not been mitigated by her public look. The situation has additionally forged a shadow over the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing.
Yao mentioned that he and Peng had recognized one another for practically 20 years. However, he didn’t remark immediately on the controversy that erupted final yr after former world No. 1 doubles participant Peng alleged {that a} former vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her up to now.
After that place, she remained absent from public sight for practically three weeks. Yao additionally participated within the December occasion, with Peng telling a media outlet that she had by no means accused anybody of sexual harassment, and that her social media posts had been misunderstood. He hasn’t spoken publicly since.
Zhang has not commented on the matter and Beijing has censored its dialogue on the Internet.
Speaking to the media lower than three weeks earlier than the beginning of the Olympics, Yao mentioned he anticipated China to win medals in pace skating and snowboarding, however requested Chinese followers to be affected person because the nation gears up for the Winter Games. is comparatively new.
Yao, China’s most well-known athlete, was the face of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. He has retired from basketball and now serves because the ice and snow sports activities ambassador for China.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
