Lausanne (Switzerland): Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai on Sunday said she was safe in Beijing during a video conference with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief, the organisation said, amid international concerns about her well being.
IOC President Thomas Bach spoke with three-time Olympian Peng Shuai. Bach was joined by the Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission, Emma Terho, and IOC Member in China Li Lingwei, who has known Peng Shuai for many years from her time in the Chinese Tennis Federation.
Read: My running days are over, says Akhtar before going for knee replacement
At the beginning of the 30-minute call, Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her well-being.
"She (Peng Shuai) explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time. That is why she prefers to spend her time with friends and family right now. Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis, the sport she loves so much," IOC said in a statement.
Emma Terho said that she was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was IOC's main concern. "She appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated," she said.