#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009720

The Honda LPGA Thailand 2022 officially announced that the registration for the Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers 2022 is now open from 7th – 24th December, 2021.

90 Professional, amateur, and up and coming Thai golfers across the nation are invited to participate in the qualifying round for the opportunity of a lifetime to go Beyond Greatness and compete at the Honda LPGA Thailand 2022 from 10th – 13th March, 2022 at the Siam Country Club Old Course, Pattaya.

The National Qualifiers 2022 commence from January 18th-20th, 2022 and will consist of a practice round followed by an exciting two-round competition at the Siam Country Club Old Course, Pattaya Chonburi Province. Interested applicants are required to register from December 7th – 24th, 2021 with a registration fee of 1,600 Baht and may download the entry form from https://hondalpgathailand.com/national-qualifiers/. The qualifiers will feature a field of 90 local players teeing-off for the chance to play in Thailand’s leading golf tournament. All professional or amateur golfers keen in participating must have a certified handicap of 2.0 or less as of December 1st, 2021.

Related Stories

• Thailand gets ready for winner’s glory for 6th time at AFF Championship
• Thailand beats Timor-Leste 2-0 in AFF Championship opening match
• Thai mixed doubles, 4 consecutive championships

The winner of the National Qualifiers will earn an exclusive invitation to compete in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2022 at the same golf course from March 10th – 13th, 2022. The leading golf tournament in Thailand features 60 of the world’s best LPGA players and 10 invitees who compete for a prize purse of $1.6 million USD or approximately 53 million THB. As a tournament that has made a name for itself by spotlighting Thai women golfers as a major force in the sport, the Honda LPGA Thailand continuously aims to inspire a new generation of golfers through efforts such as the National Qualifiers.

The Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers 2022 continues

This sentiment was echoed in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2021 that saw Thai golfers defend their national pride on our home course with young marvel, Atthaya Thitikul and emerging golf star, Patty Tavatanakit gaining worldwide acclaim following their consistent dominant streaks throughout the tournament and fellow local favourite, Ariya Jutanugarn ultimately becoming the tournament champion. The upcoming tournament is ready to once again host momentous occasions for everyone from up and coming golf enthusiasts to professional athletes.

The Honda LPGA Thailand 2022 is looking forward to welcoming more new and aspiring Thai golfers to showcase their skills and prove that they can go Beyond Greatness at the qualifiers.

Amidst the current pandemic, the qualifying event will follow protocols such as the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. These include but are not limited to, ATK testing, wearing face masks, physical distancing and encouraging consistent hand-washing.

The Honda LPGA Thailand National Qualifiers 2022 continues

For more information and updates on the Honda LPGA Thailand 2022, visit http://www.hondalpgathailand.com or follow us on Facebook  at http://www.facebook.com/lpgaThailand or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hondalpgathailand.

Published : December 07, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009683

The United States will not send President Joe Biden or any U.S. government official to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February in a signal of displeasure over Chinas human rights abuses, the White House announced Monday.

The diplomatic boycott allows American athletes to participate in the Games, but is a significant political snub to Washington’s greatest military and economic competitor.

Pressure to mount such a boycott has been building for months, with lawmakers from both parties and human rights advocates calling on the Biden administration to not attend in response to Beijing’s repressive policies against democracy activists in Hong Kong and Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. The administration in March declared China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims a genocide.

“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games given the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “The athletes on team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.”

Biden told reporters last month that he was weighing a diplomatic boycott.

The decision stands in contrast to 1980, when President Jimmy Carter kept U.S. officials and athletes out of the Summer Games in Moscow in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Though more than 60 countries joined the boycott in 1980, hundreds of American athletes were deprived of their chance at Olympic glory.

The U.S. government cannot unilaterally bar athletes from the Olympics or declare a boycott. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, an independent nonprofit organization, has sole authority to make the final call.

“I want to stress that the Winter Olympic Games is not a stage for political posturing and manipulation,” said Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, on Monday, responding to reports that a boycott announcement was imminent. “U.S. politicians keep hyping a ‘diplomatic boycott’ without even being invited to the Games. This wishful thinking and pure grandstanding is aimed at political manipulation. It is a grave travesty of the spirit of the Olympic Charter, a blatant political provocation and a serious affront to the 1.4 billion Chinese people.”

The Olympics host committee, Beijing 2022, said in a statement last month that it “has been upholding its commitment to hosting the Games in an open manner, and has been welcoming people from all walks of life and from all countries . . . to participate in the Games in their own ways.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending the event, according to Russian media reports in September. He accepted an invitation from Beijing to attend despite Russian athletes being barred from competing under the Russian flag and anthem until December 2022 as a result of a long-running, state-sponsored doping program.

An International Olympic Committee spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.

For months, U.S. Olympic officials have voiced opposition to any sort of athlete protest, urging government leaders to pursue other avenues to voice displeasure with China and its policies.

“We greatly appreciate the unwavering support of the President and his administration and we know they will be cheering us on from home this winter,” Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the USOPC, said in a statement Monday. “Competing on behalf of the United States is an honor and a privilege, and Team USA is excited and ready to make the nation proud.”

With less than two months to go before the Beijing Opening Ceremonies, the announced diplomatic boycott is just the latest mark against a Winter Games that has been controversial since the day China was awarded hosting rights in 2015.

The country most recently has come under fire for its response to Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai’s public accusations that she was sexually assaulted by Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier who played a key role in securing the Beijing Winter Games.

Peng was not heard from for nearly three weeks, sparking concern across the sports world. She finally participated in a video call with IOC officials on Nov. 21, but Olympic leaders have faced heavy criticism for their handling of the matter, which the IOC has described as a “quiet diplomacy approach.”

A diplomatic boycott is largely symbolic in nature and isn’t likely to impact the competition or the related pageantry. Government leaders and other dignitaries are typically invited to the Summer and Winter Games at the behest of the organizers. They generally sit in private sections removed from the others in attendance. On some occasions, delegations include presidents or heads of state, but countries are often represented by ambassadors, presidential family members and other elected leaders.

The Tokyo Summer Olympics were closed to spectators but diplomatic representatives and dignitaries were allowed in the venues. The scaled-back U.S. contingent was led by Jill Biden, the first lady; Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; and Raymond Greene, the chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

President Donald Trump stayed home during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics but sent a delegation that included Vice President Mike Pence and Ivanka Trump. Several U.S. presidents have also attended the Summer and Winter Olympics. President Barack Obama traveled to the 2012 Games in London and President George W. Bush attended the 2006 Games in Torino.

Published : December 07, 2021

By : The Washington Post

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009653

The Thai national team delighted its fans on Sunday by trouncing Timor-Leste with a 2-0 win in the Group A opening match for the 2020 AFF Championship in Singapore.

The winning goals were scored by Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom and Supachok Sarachart at the 51st and 81st minutes, respectively.

Thailand, the five-time champion at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championships, will be playing against Myanmar next Saturday (December 11).

The 13th edition of the championship was originally scheduled to run from November 23 to December 31, 2020, but had to be postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is now being held in Singapore from December 5 to January 1.

Related news:

• Thailand gets ready for winner’s glory for 6th time at AFF Championship
• National football team ‘hungry for success’ as they fly to Singapore for AFF Championship
• Thai League matches keep football fans glued to their seats this weekend

Published : December 05, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009651

Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai Keep up the good performance When defeating opponents in the finals of badminton mixed doubles Bali Indonesia and won the championship for the 4th time in a row.

Badminton HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2021 Mixed Doubles Finals Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, world No. 2 from Thailand, faces Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino of Japan.

The Thai couple who defeated 21-19, 21-11 won the title for a second time, receiving a $126,000 prize money.

This is the fourth consecutive championship for the Thai mixed doubles badminton team.

Thai mixed doubles, 4 consecutive championships

Thai mixed doubles, 4 consecutive championships

Pattama Leesawadtrakul President of the Badminton Association of Thailand under royal patronage gave an interview after Dechapol and Sapsiree won three championships in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday that “Congratulations to Dechapol  and Sapsiree  for being able to succeed again. with winning three championships in a bubble in bali island Just like when winning three championships in a bubble in Bangkok. last January”

“From today’s winning streak between basketball and Popo, winning the fourth title in a row represents a very high standard of play for both of them. and to build self-confidence before entering the 2021 World Championship next week in Huelva, Spain, between 12-19 Dec.

“Believe that with a great playing form A very strong physical and mental state. Will allow both of them to perform well in the upcoming World Championships. I would like to send encouragement to both of them and the team to succeed in the World Championship. And it will create happiness for Thai people again.”

Published : December 05, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009623

Thailand is gearing up to bring home the Asean Football Federation Championship trophy for the sixth time, as it qualifies for the 13th tournament.

The championship is being hosted by Singapore from December 5 to New Year’s Day.

The AFF Championship has been held every other year since 1996, except for 2020, which had to be postponed to 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.

Thailand won five of the past 12 tournaments, followed by Singapore (four titles), Vietnam (two titles) and Malaysia (one title). The Kingdom’s football team also won the runners up trophy three times. Thailand qualified for the finals eight out of 12 times.

Published : December 05, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009595

Stamp Fairtex Submits Ritu Phogat in Second Round to Win ONE Womens Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship

ONE Championship™ (ONE) returned with ONE: WINTER WARRIORS, which aired live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The card featured a battle for the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title, the conclusion of the historic ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix, and other exciting martial arts contests.

In the main event, reigning ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Regian Eersel continued his reign of dominance after going to war with Islam Murtazaev to secure a split decision and retain his World Title.

Murtazaev was aggressive from the start, pushing the pace with a torrent of flashy combinations. Eersel timed his responses well, countering with efficiency, and both fighters had their moments in a fairly even second round.

Related Stories

• Jarred Brooks Submits Lito Adiwang in Dominant Debut at ONE: NEXTGEN III
• WTA suspends tournaments in China due to fallout from Peng Shuais sexual assault allegation
• IOC announces second call with Peng Shuai, says it favors quiet diplomacy

Eersel came alive in the third, as he pressured an exhausted Murtazaev along the Circle Wall. The championship rounds then saw the Dutch-Surinamese striker establish himself even further, as he eked out a close victory, extended his winning streak to 18, and moved to 6-0 in ONE.

In the co-main event, #2-ranked atomweight contender Stamp Fairtex submitted #4-ranked Ritu Phogat in the second round to win the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship Final. Phogat was aggressive with her takedowns early, closing the distance on Stamp, who attacked with kicks from range. However, the former ONE Atomweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion showcased great takedown defense, preventing Phogat from advancing her positions. In the second round, Stamp locked in a triangle choke after Phogat took her to the mat. She then quickly transitioned to an armbar, which forced the tap at the 2:14 mark.

Regian Eersel Retains ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title With Split Decision Victory Over Islam Murtazaev

In a ONE Super Series contest, #3-ranked bantamweight kickboxer Hiroki Akimoto upset Chinese superstar Qiu Jianliang in the latter’s highly anticipated promotional debut. Akimoto was aggressive to start, firing off a myriad of powerful combinations in the first round. With a sense of urgency, Qiu came back in the second frame with sharp counters, but Akimoto did not back down. In the final round, the Japanese athlete did just enough to outstrike Qiu and take home the unanimous decision victory.

In a pivotal lightweight mixed martial arts clash, #3-ranked Dagi Arslanaliev and #5-ranked Timofey Nastyukhin put on a show. It was an intense battle from the opening bell, as both men traded destructive blows in the Circle. A furious second frame from Arslanaliev nearly had the Russian out on his feet, but the latter survived the onslaught. In the final round, the Turkish star connected with a thunderous right hand that slept Nastyukhin almost instantly, ending matters at just 49 seconds into round three.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida made quick work of previously unbeaten knockout artist Kang Ji Wong, submitting the South Korean midway through the first round. “Buchecha” wasted no time with a takedown. Once on the mat, he swiftly took the back and locked in the rear-naked choke to force the tap at the 2:27 mark.

Kicking off an explosive card was #3-ranked flyweight contender Yuya Wakamatsu, who dominated rising star Hu Yong on all fronts to earn a landslide unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. Wakamatsu connected early with several powerful right hands that hurt Hu, and he secured a plethora of takedowns across all three rounds to seal the victory.

Official Results for ONE: WINTER WARRIORS
Kickboxing – Lightweight: Regian Eersel def. Islam Murtazaev via Split Decision
MMA – Atomweight: Stamp Fairtex def. Ritu Phogat via Submission (Armbar) at 2:14 of R2
Kickboxing – Bantamweight: Hiroki Akimoto def. Qiu Jianliang via Unanimous Decision 
MMA – Lightweight: Dagi Arslanaliev def. Timofey Nastyukhin via TKO at 0:49 of R3
MMA – Heavyweight: Buchecha def. Kang Ji Won via Submission (Rear-naked Choke) at 2:27 of R1
MMA – Flyweight: Yuya Wakamatsu def. Hu Yong via Unanimous Decision

Regian Eersel Retains ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title With Split Decision Victory Over Islam MurtazaevRegian Eersel Retains ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title With Split Decision Victory Over Islam Murtazaev
 

Published : December 04, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009593

Rookie Jaravee Boonchant captured her maiden professional title following a stroke victory over teenage rising star Chanettee Wannasaen in the Bt4 million BGC Thailand LPGA Master at the Panya Ram Indra Golf Club on Friday.

The 22-year-old Duke University graduate, despite an ending bogey, carded a final 68 and a total 12 under-par-204 to prevail at the par 72 6,465 yard layout in the season-ending tournament of the Thai LPGA Tour. 

“I’m so overwhelmed to win my first title as a pro,” said Jaravee in her second tournament after turning professional in June. “I’m happy to stick to my game plan until the end. I’m pleased with the way I hit my driver and putter,” added Jaravee who finished her B.A. degree in statistical science with a minor in Japanese language.  

“In fact I was so excited since on the 16th hole. Chanettee was playing so well and tried to catch up with me. But I kept my cool and hanged tough out there,” said Jaravee who had gone through 17 holes without an error until in on the 18th hole. 

In fact, Jaravee is having a holiday in Thailand as she will return to the US in February for the Symetra Tour. She reached the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying School which earned her a spot in the futures tour (Symetra) for the 2022 season. 

“I will spend the off-season preparing for the Symetra Tour next year. My goal is to finish in the top 10 of the Symetra, so that I can get a berth into LPGA Tour in the following year,” said Jaravee who received her biggest cheque of Bt600,000 as the winner on Friday. 

17-year-old Chanettee from Chiang Mai also hit a final 68 to finish at lone second on 11 under-par-205, three shots ahead of Arpichaya Yubol who signed off with a 70 and a total 8 under-par-208. They received Bt400,000 and Bt300,000 respectively.  

Meanwhile, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, who won the season-opening Thai LPGA event in Kanchanaburi in July, ends the year as the No 1 player on the Thai LPGA Tour, earning an overall prize money of Bt671,033.  

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam
Contributing​ Writer

Published : December 04, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009554

China is pressuring American companies to push back against campaigns to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing, amid heightened scrutiny of human rights abuses in the country.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng on Tuesday told a video conference of U.S. business executives to “make a positive contribution” to the Games, which open in February.

“Boycotting the Olympics for political reasons harms the interests of athletes, violates the shared ideals and aspirations of the international society, and is unpopular,” Xie said. President Joe Biden has confirmed that the White House is considering a diplomatic boycott of the Games.

The outreach by China comes amid signs that foreign businesses, long compliant with official demands for quiescence, are waking up to the reputational damage from staying silent at a time of intensifying repression. A global furor over the treatment of tennis star Peng Shuai after she accused a retired top Chinese leader of sexual abuse crystallized concerns over censorship and the silencing of women by powerful officials, bolstering calls for a Games boycott.

Attended by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the U.S.-China Business Council, the event was part of efforts by Beijing to prevent the relationship from deteriorating beyond what is already its worst point since diplomatic ties were established.

Xie declared that a virtual summit between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had sent a strong signal that the relationship needed to be mended. But Beijing has continued to angrily rebuff any suggestion of wrongdoing over military aggression toward Taiwan, a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong and mass internment of Uyghurs and other Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

“Everyone must be clear that Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet are core interests that touch upon China’s sovereignty and secure development,” Xie told the American executives. “China does not have any room to compromise.”

The call for multinationals to support Beijing’s position comes as the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) on Wednesday announced that it was suspending tournaments in China because of concerns about the Peng’s safety.

On Nov. 2, Peng accused retired Chinese Communist Party executive vice premier Zhang Gaoli of coercing her into a sexual relationship. The post was censored within about half an hour and Peng then disappeared for two weeks.

After an international outcry, she re-emerged in carefully curated posts from Chinese state media and spoke via video with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. But these reports were not shared on China’s heavily censored social media, where Peng remains silent.

The appearances have not satisfied human rights groups, which see parallels between Peng’s case and those of dozens of activists and dissidents previously forced to confess and recant on state media.

In response to the WTA’s decision, the Chinese Tennis Association on Thursday expressed “indignation” at what it labeled a “unilateral action” based on “fictitious information.”

“It not only beset and hurt the relevant athlete herself, but also will severely harm the female tennis players’ fair opportunities to compete, then damage the interest of the entire sport of tennis,” the association said, without naming Peng or mentioning her post.

The statement was delivered only in English to state media outlets responsible for pushing Beijing’s messaging to the outside world and was not posted on the association’s website or in Chinese media. That followed a pattern of Chinese responses about Peng’s disappearance made solely for external consumption.

Within China, there has been little discussion of the WTA’s decision. Its official account on Chinese microblog Weibo showed no mention of the tournament suspension and the platform had blocked users from making or viewing comments below recent posts, a common form of soft censorship.

Human rights groups and sports icons heralded the WTA’s decision not to back down under Beijing’s pressure. Former world tennis champion and social activist Billie Jean King tweeted, “The WTA is on the right side of history in supporting our players.”

As scrutiny of abuses in China mounts, multinational companies and international institutions have repeatedly found themselves facing pressure from both concerned human rights activists and Chinese officials.

Combined with strict laws on data protection and the lingering China-U. S. trade dispute, that challenging political environment is forcing a rethink by companies that once saw China’s market as irresistible.

Business executives that remain committed to China, however, continue to defend the Chinese leadership and backtrack rapidly if they offend Beijing, intentionally or otherwise.

A day after JP Morgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon joked last week that the company might outlast the Chinese Communist Party, adding “I can’t say that in China,” he released a statement saying he regretted the remarks, conceding “it’s never right to joke about or denigrate any group of people.”

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio responded to a question about human rights issues in China by saying that he “can’t be an expert in all of those particular dynamics.”

Dalio, a long time believer that China sits at the center of global economic growth, added that the Chinese leadership behaved like a “strict parent” toward Chinese people. “The notion of whatever they are doing in terms of calling in people and then behaving in a certain way, that’s their approach,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Bridgewater Associates has raised the equivalent of $1.25 billion for its third investment fund in China.

Published : December 03, 2021

By : The Washington Post

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009553

The International Olympic Committee said in a statement released Thursday morning that it held another call Wednesday with Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai amid continued concerns about her well-being in the wake of allegations she made last month that a former Chinese official sexually assaulted her.

The statement, which said Peng appeared “safe and well, given the difficult situation she is in,” came after the Women’s Tennis Association announced Wednesday that it would suspend all tournaments in China and Hong Kong in a decision that could heighten calls for a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The IOC has faced criticism from human rights advocates and others for taking a softer approach.

Concerns about Peng, a three-time Olympian and a Grand Slam doubles champion, rose after a nearly three-week public absence followed a Nov. 2 social media post in which she accused former vice premier Zhang Gaoli of sexually assaulting her. There has been no comment about the allegation from Zhang, who retired in 2018, or the Chinese government, which blocked the topic from direct discussion on the country’s Internet. Peng, 35, has been seen publicly only once since her post, which vanished within hours of its publication.

“We share the same concern as many other people and organisations about the well-being and safety of Peng Shuai. This is why, just yesterday, an IOC team held another video call with her,” said the IOC’s statement, which was unsigned by any individual.

“We have offered her wide-ranging support, will stay in regular touch with her, and have already agreed on a personal meeting in January.”

The IOC defended how it has handled the matter, including its announcement Nov. 21 that IOC President Thomas Bach had held a half-hour video call with Peng. “We have taken a very human and person-centred approach to her situation,” Thursday’s statement said. “Since she is a three-time Olympian, the IOC is addressing these concerns directly with Chinese sports organizations.”

The organization added that it was “using ‘quiet diplomacy’ which, given the circumstances and based on the experience of governments and other organisations, is indicated to be the most promising way to proceed effectively in such humanitarian matters.”

On Wednesday, human rights activists applauded the WTA for taking a different approach, making a decision that could represent millions in lost revenue.

“In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault,” WTA CEO Steve Simon wrote in his organization’s statement Wednesday, adding that he was “greatly concerned” about the risks WTA players and staff could face if the WTA held tournaments in China in 2022.

“None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable,” he wrote. “If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.”

Simon had threatened Nov. 18 to pull all WTA events from the country after Chinese state media circulated an email attributed to Peng in which she renounced her accusation that Zhang had pressured her into sex. Simon questioned the statement’s authenticity and called for an independent investigation of her claims.

Chinese officials responded by sharing what it said was video of Peng dining with friends Nov. 20. A day later, officials set up a video call between Peng and Bach, who said he was satisfied that Peng was “fine.” However, he did not determine whether she was able to speak or travel without government interference or intimidation. Human rights advocates sharply criticized Bach for using his stature as IOC president to shield the 2022 Olympics host as the hashtag #whereispengshuai gathered steam on social media.

The European Union joined the White House and the United Nations on Tuesday in calling for an investigation into Peng’s allegations and disappearance from public life. Also Tuesday, senior IOC member Dick Pound denied that the organization had offered assurances about her safety after the original video call to avoid angering the host of the upcoming Games.

“That’s complete nonsense . . . there was generalized concern about what may or may not have happened to her,” Pound, the IOC’s longest-serving member, told Reuters.

“So what the IOC did was very quietly put a little bit of an Olympic network together with our president, the chair of our Athletes’ Commission, one of our senior members in China, and they got in touch with her and she was happy to be on the call.”

Published : December 03, 2021

By : The Washington Post

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40009509

The Womens Tennis Association announced Wednesday it is immediately suspending its tournaments in China in response to ongoing concerns about the safety and well-being of Peng Shuai.

The announcement was made by WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon, who noted the decision, which will represent millions in lost revenue, had the full support of the WTA board.

The decision makes good on a threat Simon issued Nov. 19 to pull its events from the country after questioning the authenticity of an email circulated by state media and attributed to Peng. Simon also called for an investigation into her Nov. 2 allegation in a social media post that she had been sexually assaulted by Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier of China.

Since then, Simon noted, Peng’s message was removed from the Internet and discussion of the topic has been censored in China.

While Chinese officials shared footage of Peng in recent days and on Nov. 21 arranged a video call with International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach, it remains unclear, Simon noted, that Peng is free and able to speak without interference or intimidation.

“In good conscience, I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault,” Simon wrote. ” Given the current state of affairs, I am also greatly concerned about the risks that all of our players and staff could face if we were to hold events in China in 2022.

“None of this is acceptable nor can it become acceptable. If powerful people can suppress the voices of women and sweep allegations of sexual assault under the rug, then the basis on which the WTA was founded – equality for women – would suffer an immense setback. I will not and cannot let that happen to the WTA and its players.

China is preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in less than two months.

Published : December 02, 2021

By : The Washington Post