Chinese tennis star Zheng Qinwen donates 1 million yuan to Nepal-Tibet flood relief

China tennis star Zheng Qinwen has given 1 million yuan (US$150,000) to help the disaster relief efforts in Nepal and Tibet, a charity group has revealed.

In a post on its official social media account, the China Charity Federation said Zheng had made the donation in response to the flash flood that has claimed the lives of at least 950 people, while more than 4,000 are still missing.

The Olympic gold medallist, who is through to the second round of the US Open after beating Kristina Liutova on Monday in New York, reportedly told the China Charity Federation the funds were specifically for “emergency relief, transitional resettlement and post-disaster reconstruction”.

“On August 26, a mudslide on the Nepal side caused heavy casualties and missing persons at Gyirong Port in Gyirong County, Shigatse City, Tibet,” the federation wrote. “In response to the severe disaster, tennis player Zheng Qinwen generously donated 1 million yuan to the mudslide-affected area in Gyirong, Tibet, through the China Charity Federation.

“Ms. Zheng Qinwen stated that she will continue to closely follow the progress of relief efforts in Gyirong and expressed her sincere wishes for the compatriots in the disaster-affected area to overcome the hardship soon and rebuild their homes.”

The group subsequently announced that Chinese firms Anta Group, BYD, and Pinduoduo had each donated 10 million yuan for disaster relief.