Peng Shuai appears at a Chinese tennis event, photos of organizers show Reuters

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts have been of international concern for weeks, took part in a tennis tournament in Beijing on Sunday, according to official photos released by the China Open.

Peng Fila can be seen among the guests at the Kids Junior Tennis Challenger Finals, wearing dark blue jackets and white pants, according to images posted on the event’s official WeChat page.

The former double world number has not been seen or heard publicly on Chinese social media since he said on November 2 that former Vice President Zhang Gaoli forced sexual relations and then had a consensual relationship.

Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government has given an opinion on his allegation. Peng’s post on social media was quickly wiped out and the subject was prevented from being discussed on the highly censored Internet in China.

World tennis organizations have expressed concern that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) will take the championships out of China. The United States and Britain have called for Peng’s whereabouts and security evidence.

The WTA and Beijing’s U.S. and British embassies did not immediately respond to Reuters ’requests for comment on Peng’s appearance in the Chinese capital on Sunday.

The issue of Peng’s security and whereabouts has surfaced as China prepares to host the Beijing Winter Olympics in February amid calls by global rights groups and others to boycott human rights history.

Hu Xijin, the director of the state-sponsored Global Times newspaper, tweeted Peng’s appearance at the tournament earlier Sunday. It is published by The Global Times, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party of China.

Videos posted by Hu and a Global Times reporter showed him smiling, waving and signing autographs for the children.

The 37-second video https://twitter.com/huxijin_gt/status/1462223089119338498?s=21 This post seems to be standing in a row of people being introduced to Peng viewers. One announcer says, “Two-time Grand Slam champion, the world’s first former number one in women’s doubles – Peng Shuai!” She nods, smiles, and applauds.

Chen Qingqing Global Thames chief journalist posted a 31-second video https://twitter.com/qingqingparis/status/1462230482863542277, apparently of the same event. Peng seems to sign the tennis balls for the kids and put them in pictures with them.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the images, both of which were credited to Global Times employee Cui Meng.