China arrests Chinese athlete

In a crackdown on online negativity surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics, Beijing police arrested a 29-year-old woman for allegedly posting slanderous comments about Chinese athletes, particularly after the women's singles table tennis final. The police stated that the suspect fabricated information and disgraced others, prompting significant backlash on Chinese social media platforms. Following the match, which saw Chen Meng defeat Sun Yingsha, fans reacted strongly, leading to over 12,000 posts being deleted and hundreds of accounts suspended for harmful comments. Authorities aim to mitigate the negative impact of aggressive 'fan culture' that has emerged since the 2016 Rio Olympics. This crackdown reflects ongoing efforts by Chinese regulators to maintain a positive public discourse around sports and protect the reputations of athletes. The case remains under investigation, with further actions expected against those participating in online harassment.