Li Na: Chinese consulate slams ‘fake news’ tennis star has changed nationality
- Topic trends on Weibo after image of an application to Busan consulate was uploaded on Monday
- Sina Tennis account among those to deny reports but two-time slam winner remains silent
Former tennis star Li Na found herself trending on social media after reports said she had given up her Chinese nationality.
The two-time grand slam winner was said to be the Li Na who had applied to change their nationality in Busan, South Korea, with the topic of “Li Na’s resignation of Chinese nationality” blowing up on Weibo.
An image of a consular certificate showing Li Na applying to change her nationality to South Korean, dated December 24, was uploaded to Weibo on Monday.
Reports that this was the first Asian tennis grand slam winner were swiftly denied by both the Sina Tennis account and the Chinese consulate in Busan.
“The source of this picture is not clear, but I see that many people maliciously take the rhythm and maliciously speculate. Let’s create this topic. There is more than one Li Na in China,” wrote Sina Tennis.
“After verifying with Li Na’s team, Li Na and her passport number in the picture were not the Li Na who played tennis as guessed by many netizens, so we clarify.”
