Source – www.rfa.org
BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) – Beijing police have detained a 29-year-old woman, identified only by her surname He, on charges of defaming Chinese athletes and coaches following the women’s singles table tennis final at the Paris Olympics. The arrest stems from accusations that He posted defamatory remarks on social media about the players involved in the high-profile match.
According to a statement from the Daxing district police, He is accused of “maliciously fabricating information” and making defamatory comments that hurt society. The police have launched an investigation into the case, although specific details regarding the nature of the comments have not been revealed.
Tensions Surround Table Tennis Final at the Paris Olympics
The controversy erupted after the Aug. 3 final, where China’s Chen Meng defeated her teammate Sun Yingsha, who was also the world No.1, in a 4-2 victory. The match, a rematch of their Tokyo 2020 encounter, saw a mixed reaction from the audience. During the game, Chen received boos from the crowd each time she scored, while Sun was met with cheers. This reaction was noted in the broadcast of the event and quickly became a topic of discussion on social media.
Why Wang Chuqin lost to Truls Moregard in Table Tennis Final at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Online Backlash and Platform Response
Following the match, social media users criticized the crowd’s behavior and voiced concerns over the impact of such fan culture on athletes. One Weibo user expressed concern that allowing such behavior could undermine talented athletes like Sun Yingsha. In response to the flood of comments, Weibo, China’s leading microblogging platform, reported removing over 12,000 posts and banning more than 300 accounts for what it deemed “illegal” comments.
National Pride Amidst Controversy
In addition to the table tennis controversy, Chinese social media was also abuzz with pride following swimmer Pan Zhanle’s achievement. Pan broke his world record in the 100-meter freestyle, garring widespread celebration. However, the positive news was overshadowed by recent doping allegations. Media reports revealed that two Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022, bringing the issue of doping back into the spotlight for China.
The arrest of the woman accused of defamation and the ongoing investigation highlights the broader tensions and issues surrounding national pride and athlete conduct in China’s sports community.
Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: A Grand Finale on the Horizon
