Golfers are feeling political pressure
IMAGE: China Yu Liu plays her shot. Photograph: Sergei Belski USA TODAY Sport/Reuters
Chinese players on the elite US professional women’s golf tour have pulled out of this week’s tournament canada goose uk in Taiwan at the 11th hour, after being told by someone ‘high up’ in China to skip the event, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
Canada Goose Parka They said world number https://www.mycanadagoosejacket.org nine Shanshan Feng and rookie Yu Liu were told during last weekend’s event in Shanghai that they should not play in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship, which starts in Taipei on Thursday. Canada Goose Parka
China, which views self ruled Taiwan as a wayward province, has ramped up pressure to assert its sovereignty. Ties have deteriorated since 2016, when President Tsai Ing wen of the independence leaning Democratic Progressive Party came to power.
The United States sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait on Monday in its second such operation this year, as its canada goose outlet eu military steps up the frequency of transits through the busy strategic waterway, despite opposition from China.
canada goose Sometimes the ill feeling between China and Taiwan engulfs sporting events. canada goose
In July, for example, China blamed “independence activists” for the cancellation of an Olympic event in Taiwan, shrugging off Taipei accusation that Beijing “political bullying” was behind the revocation of canada goose jacket outlet sale its right to host a youth game.
It is unclear who told Feng and Yu, the only two Chinese golfers confirmed for the event in Taiwan, not to attend, but, barring injury, it is highly unusual for players canada goose outlet kokemuksia to withdraw at such a late stage.
One source at the tournament said officials there had no plans to fine the players for withdrawing so late in the day, “given the circumstances”.
canada goose clearance A media officer for the LPGA at the tournament told Reuters he was aware the two players had pulled out, but did not elaborate on the reason. canada goose clearance
Canada Goose Coats On Sale Until Monday, the picture profiles of both Feng and Yu figured on the tournament’s official website and the LPGA had listed their names canada goose outlet jackets in the “final field”, but by Tuesday, both profiles were gone from the website. Canada Goose Coats On Sale
canada goose black friday sale Ruby Chen, the Shanghai based agent for both Feng and Yu, told Reuters on Tuesday the golfers would not attend the Taiwan event, but declined to comment why they were withdrawing, while denying that any cheap canada goose pressure had been put on them to do so. canada goose black friday sale
Contacted by Reuters for comment, the General Administration of Sport of China said it had no idea about the incident and referred queries to the golf association.
Canada Goose Outlet The China Golf Association did not answer several telephone calls to seek comment. Canada Goose Outlet
canada goose uk black friday This is the second time Rio Olympic bronze medallist Feng canada goose outlet in vancouver has skipped an event on the LPGA Tour due to outside pressure. canada goose uk black friday
canada goose factory sale In March 2017, she was told it was ‘in her best interests’ not to take part in an event sponsored by South Korean conglomerate Lotte as a diplomatic row between Beijing and Seoul over a missile defence system spilled into the sports world. canada goose factory sale
Feng, who joined the lucrative US tour in canada goose outlet online 2008, played in the Swinging Skirts event last year when it was staged in Taiwan for the first time as part of the LPGA calendar.
She also played in the Fubon Taiwan Championship from 2014 to 2016 after skipping Taiwan based tournaments from 2011 to 2013.
Feng usually made the decision about whether to play in the event based on her schedule, said Chen, the two players’ agent.
“Next week’s tournament she won’t attend,” Chen added.
“However, in the past there have also been times she hasn’t attended this Taiwan tournament, which has been according to her competition schedule.
“Sometimes she attends, sometimes she doesn’t. This year she won’t attend.”
While headquartered in the United States, the canada goose outlet germany LPGA describes itself as a ‘global tour’. This year 11 of its 33 tournaments are being staged outside North America.
Its playing roster is equally broad, featuring players from some 30 countries and territories.
The Tour is now on its end of season Asian swing, which includes tournaments in China, Japan and South Korea.
The Swinging Skirts Golf Foundation is a “non profit organisation based in Taiwan, composed of amateur golfers who are focused on growing women’s golf around the world”, the LPGA website says.
Howard Liu, the foundation’s tournament operation director, confirmed that two players from China had applied to withdraw from the event in Taiwan, adding that the reason was unclear.
buy canada goose jacket “Players withdraw from competition for various reasons. We respect their decision,” he told Reuters by telephone, declining to comment further. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken canada goose factory outlet in reliance thereon buy canada goose jacket.