Japanese badminton star Chiharu Shida has urged Chinese fans to "stop stalking" her, revealing that she is "very scared" by the unwanted attention she has been receiving, reports AFP/ BSS.
Shida, who secured a women's doubles bronze at the Paris Olympics, has garnered a strong following in China, partly due to her engagement with local culture. At 27, she is currently competing at the Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, where she has been dubbed the "Badminton Goddess" by fans and media.
However, on Tuesday, Shida took to Instagram to accuse some supporters of taking their fandom too far. "Every time we compete in China, we always experience the harm of stalkers," she wrote in Chinese. "It has already been going on for a year and a half, and recently I have felt very uncomfortable and very scared," she added.
Shida, known for her sportsmanship, warned, "From now on, please immediately stop stalking me... but if the situation continues, I will think of a way to handle it." Despite this, she clarified that "not all fans are like this" and expressed gratitude for the support of the majority of her followers.
Shida, alongside her doubles partner Nami Matsuyama, is ranked third in the world. On Wednesday, they defeated their compatriots Mizuki Otake and Miyu Takahashi in Ningbo.
In recent years, the Chinese government has taken measures to curb extreme fandom after sports stars and celebrities faced harassment and stalking. According to reports, China's cyber watchdog has recently shut down nearly 4,000 online accounts and removed 1.6 million posts to help create a more positive public environment for athletes.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
