Taiwanese table tennis player alleges sexual assault during security check at London championship
Al Jazeera English
A female table tennis player from Taiwan has reported being sexually assaulted during a security check at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in London. Taiwanese sports authorities and the International Table Tennis Federation have launched an investigation, with the alleged perpetrator temporarily suspended. The athlete, identified in local reports as Cheng I-ching, has publicly vowed to speak up for all female athletes.
On April 29, Taiwanese sports authorities reported that a female table tennis player from Taiwan (Republic of China) had filed a complaint of “inappropriate physical contact” during a security check while entering the venue for the World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, England.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Sports issued a statement on April 29 calling for a safe environment for athletes, asserting: “Ensuring all athletes compete in a fair, safe and respectful environment is a core fundamental principle; any form of inappropriate physical contact should never occur.”
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said a female athlete reported the incident during the entrance security check on April 26 and that an investigation is underway. The ITTF said the organization was “extremely embarrassed” by the allegation. The ITTF noted: “We acknowledge that the UK is currently at a higher security alert level, which necessitates strict entry screening procedures at the venue. However, these procedures must always be conducted in a professional and appropriate manner.”
The Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association said the incident occurred as members of the women's team entered the competition area to prepare for their match. Team officials submitted a written protest to the organizers, who apologized and informed them that the allegedly involved security staff had been temporarily suspended.
The athlete has not been publicly named, but reports from Taiwan identify her as Cheng I-ching after she posted a pledge on social media to “speak up for all female athletes.” In the post, Cheng wrote: “As athletes, we endure tremendous physical and mental pressure to pursue better performance on the court, and we are also forced to face various forms of unfair treatment. This is not just my experience; it is a challenge faced by countless female athletes around the world. That is why this time, I choose to stand up and speak up for all female athletes. Sports need not only equal opportunity but also serious protection of human rights.” She vowed to “continue to strive and never back down.”
Cheng I-ching, 34, is Taiwan’s top-ranked female player at the World Team Table Tennis Championships held in the British capital, but she has not played any match since the tournament started on April 28. The Taiwanese women’s team, competing as Chinese Taipei, beat South Korea 3-1 on the morning of April 26 but lost 3-0 to China on the same day. They also fell 3-1 to Romania on April 27. The tournament runs through May 4.
