BEIJING: A 29-year-old woman, identified only by the surname He, has been taken into custody on suspicion of spreading defamatory comments about Chinese athletes and coaches on social media. The said arrest followed after the thrilling table tennis women’s singles final at the Paris Olympics.
Defamatory comments against Chinese athletes/coaches
The Daxing district police reported that the suspect “maliciously fabricated information and blatantly defamed others,” causing a negative ripple effect in society. The investigation into the case is ongoing, although the exact nature of the defamatory comments has not been revealed to the public.
The match in question, which took place on August 3, saw defending champion Chen Meng triumph over her teammate Sun Yingsha in a nail-biting 4-2 victory. This match was a repeat of their previous encounter at the Tokyo Olympics three years prior. The game was marked by audible cheers for Sun and boos for Chen whenever she scored, as captured in the event’s broadcast.
The crowd’s behavior sparked a wave of criticism on social media. One Weibo user expressed concern, stating, “If this kind of fan culture is allowed to permeate sports, it can ultimately undermine even the most talented athletes, like Sun Yingsha.”
In response to the online backlash, Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, took action by deleting over 12,000 posts and banning more than 300 accounts for what it termed “illegal” comments.
Amidst this controversy, there was a moment of pure joy and national pride for China as swimmer Pan Zhanle shattered his own 100 meters freestyle world record. However, this triumph was slightly overshadowed by reports that two Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022, once again bringing the issue of doping into the spotlight.
Importance of fair play
As the Olympic spirit continues to inspire and unite people around the globe, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fair play, both on and off the field.
The authorities’ swift action in addressing the defamatory comments underscores the commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sporting community and ensuring that athletes are respected and protected from unwarranted attacks.