China to probe cue sports team harassment claim

BEIJING, Dec 14 (Reuters) China will investigate allegations of beating and harassment within its national cue sports team that have embarrassed the country and infuriated Asian Games team officials.

Last week, 19-year-old Zhou Mengmeng lost the women's eight-ball pool semi-final and withdrew from the bronze medal play-off, later telling journalists she had quit because her male team mate Tian Pengfei had beaten and harassed her.

Zhou returned to China yesterday with some team members and a phalanx of sport officials, the Beijing News reported today, but Tian was not on the same plane.

''We will be thoroughly investigating this matter,'' Cui Zhiqiang, China cue sports chief, told the Beijing News.

''Once the (Dec. 1-15 Asian Games) are over, we will be collectively discussing this matter, and if there are any punishments, the sport administration will advise through official channels,'' Cui said.

China cue sports deputy director Wang Liwei said Tian had hit Zhou, but played down the incident and said there had been no sexual harassment, state media reported this week.

''Zhou was spending more time wandering around the sports hall chatting with foreign players than preparing for her matches,'' Wang was quoted as saying in the China Daily on Tuesday.

Tian had tried to persuade her to prepare for the upcoming competition and the two had scuffled, Wang said.

''Zhou was by no means beaten black and blue as she claims,' he said. ''For example, Zhou's nails were not broken by Tian, but were the result of Zhou hitting Tian.'' REUTERS SAM ND1744