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A32 sports
Dialuna 15 november 2021

WTA CEO calls for investigation of China assault allegation

count on Wiebo, a leading parently and without censor-
Chinese social media plat- ship,” Simon said.
form — also said they had Peng has won 23 tour-level
sex once seven years ago and doubles titles, including at
she had feelings for him after Wimbledon in 2013 and the
that. French Open in 2014. She
was a semifinalist in singles at
“Peng Shuai, and all women, the U.S Open in 2014.
deserve to be heard, not cen- Her accusation was the first
sored. Her accusation about against a prominent gov-
the conduct of a former Chi- ernment official since the
nese leader involving a sexual #MeToo movement took
assault must be treated with hold in China in 2018 before
the utmost seriousness. In being largely tamped down
all societies, the behavior by authorities the same year.
she alleges that took place
needs to be investigated, not In the post, Peng, 35, wrote
condoned or ignored. We that Zhang, now 75, and his
commend Peng Shuai for wife arranged to play tennis
her remarkable courage and in Beijing about three years
strength in coming forward. ago and that he later brought
Women around the world are her into a room at his home
finding their voices so injus- where the assault occurred.
(AP) — The head of the that country. ty’s all-powerful Politburo tices can be corrected,” WTA “I was so frightened that af-
women’s professional ten- Standing Committee, had Chairman and CEO Steve ternoon, never thinking that
nis tour called for a full Earlier this month, Peng Sh- forced her to have sex despite Simon said in a statement re- this thing could happen,” the
investigation of sexual as- uai, a former No. 1-ranked repeated refusals following a leased by the tour on Sunday. post said.
sault allegations made by doubles player, wrote in a round of tennis three years
a two-time Grand Slam lengthy social media post ago. “We expect this issue to be Zhang retired in 2018 and

doubles champion from that Zhang Gaoli, a former handled properly, meaning has largely disappeared from
China against a former vice premier and member of Her post — which was re- the allegations must be in- public life, as is usual with
top government official in the ruling Communist Par- moved from her verified ac- vestigated fully, fairly, trans- former Chinese officials.

Flick extends winning start as Germany beats Armenia

(AP) — Hansi Flick ex- Flick replaced Joachim Löw any of the world’s top teams.
tended his winning start after Germany’s exit to Eng- Kai Havertz got Germany
as Germany coach to sev- land in the round of 16 at the started against Armenia when
en games in a 4-1 victory European Championship he turned in a low cross from
over Armenia in World and has won all seven games Jonas Hofmann. Gundogan
Cup qualifying Sunday, as since for the best starting re- scored a penalty in first-half
North Macedonia reached cord of any Germany coach. stoppage time and another
the playoffs in its bid to goal off Thomas Müller’s as-
play at the World Cup for Under Flick, who won the sist early in the second half.
the first time. Champions League with Henrikh Mkhitaryan pulled
Bayern Munich in 2019-20, one back with a penalty for
Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan Germany has scored 31 goals Armenia, before Hofmann
scored twice as Germany, and conceded just two. His responded with Germany’s
which qualified last month, seven games have included fourth goal.
finished top of Group J by two wins each against Arme-
nine points. nia and Liechtenstein, and North Macedonia beat Ice-
Flick’s Germany is yet to face land 3-1 to stay in conten-

tion for the World Cup in a Eljif Elmas put North Mace-
breakout year for the Balkan donia back in front soon af-
country coming off its debut ter, reacting quickly to score
European Championship on the rebound when Ali-
campaign. oski had two shots blocked
North Macedonia needed in quick succession. Elmas
a win over Iceland to stay scored again late on to extend
ahead of a Romania team his team’s lead after Iceland
which beat Liechtenstein 2-0. had 18-year-old Isak Berg-
mann Johannesson sent off
Ezgjan Alioski gave North for two bookings.
Macedonia the lead in the
seventh minute, but Jon Da- North Macedonia will be
gur Thorsteinsson leveled among the unseeded teams
the score for Iceland just after in the March playoffs, when
halftime. 12 teams will play for three
World Cup places.