Chiba 2018 preview: three giants to clash in Group B

Three of the top four ranked nations in the world will clash in the Group B of the WBSC Women’s World Championship, to be held in Chiba, Japan, from 2-12 August. Japan, Canada and Australia are the main contenders to make the playoffs in this group, but Italy, China, Great Britain, Venezuela and Botswana will defy them trying to clinch a berth in the playoffs.

You can check all the information of the tournament in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Championship website: https://wswc.wbsc.org/.

JAPAN

WSWC Appearances: 13

Highest finish: Champion (1970; 2012; 2014)

2016 finish: 2nd

Ranking: 2

The host team seeks to regain the title of World Champions, after winning back to back titles in 2012 and 2014. Two years ago Japan lost the finale against USA by a score of 7-3. It will be the third Women’s Softball World Championship in Japan. In 1970 the host team crowned champions; while in 1998 they earned the Bronze Medal. Japan is one of the candidates to win the Gold Medal Game on 12 August. In their last international appearances, Japan swept USA in the All Stars Softball Series, and earned the second place in the USA Softball International Cup. Japan is the only team qualified for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as host nation. They won the Gold Medal in Beijing 2008.

Round robin schedule:

2 August, 20:00 – vs Italy

3 August, 19:00 – vs Botswana

4 August, 19:00 – vs China

5 August, 18:30 – vs Great Britain

6 August, 19:00 – vs Venezuela

7 August, 19:00 – vs Canada

8 August, 19:00 – vs Australia

CANADA

WSWC Appearances: 14

Highest finish: 2nd (1978)

2016 finish: 3rd

Ranking: 3

Canada will be playing in Chiba its 15th consecutive WSWC; they only mised the first edition of this event, in Melbourne 1965. The read and white team earned bronze in Surrey 2016 for the first time in six years. They also finished third in Caracas 2010, but then ended in fourth place both in 2012 and 2014. They have made the playoffs five consecutive times (last time they didn’t qualified was Saskatoon 2002), and will try to reach the Gold Medal Game for the second time in history. They lost to USA, 4-0, in their only appearance in the finale, in San Salvador 1978. Canada has participated in the four Olympic softball competitions so far, and will try to win it all in Chiba to clinch their berth in Tokyo 2020.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 12:30 – vs Great Britain

3 August, 18:00 – vs Venezuela

4 August, 15:30 – vs Italy

5 August, 14:30 – vs Australia

6 August, 12:30 – vs China

7 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

8 August, 15:30 – vs Botswana

AUSTRALIA

WSWC Appearances: 15

Highest finish: Champion (1965)

2016 finish: 10th

Ranking: 4

Australia is one of three countries to be present in every edition of the WSWC. They hosted the first World Championship in Melbourne, 1965, and became the first ever Women’s Softball World Champions. The green and gold squad has climbed to the podium eight times, including two finals. After a dissapointing 10th place in 2016 Australia seeks to become the first qualified nation for Tokyo 2020. They are one of the most succesfull nations in softball Olympic history, since they have won four medals in as many Olympic Games, including three bronzes and a silver in Athens 2004.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 10:00 – vs Venezuela

3 August, 15:30 – vs China

4 August, 10:00 – vs Italy

5 August, 14:30 – vs Canada

6 August, 10:00 – vs Botswana

7 August, 18:00 – vs Great Britain

8 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

ITALY

WSWC Appearances: 11

Highest finish: 6th (1998 and 2006)

2016 finish: 14th

Ranking: 9

Italy has made the playoffs four times in history, including three in a row from 1998 to 2006. In Surrey 2016 they advanced to the chamionship groups, but couldn’t make the playoffs. They qualified for Chiba as the second nation in Europe, lossing the continental championship finale against the Netherlands, 7-1, last year. Their goal in Chiba is to finish in the top four of the Group B, reach the playoffs again and then advance as far as possible in the playoffs. Italy participated in two Olympic Games: Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004; ending in fifth and eighth position respectively.

Round robin schedule:

2 August, 20:00 – vs Japan

4 August, 10:00 – vs Australia

4 August, 15:30 – vs Canada

5 August, 12:30 – vs Botswana

6 August, 15:30 – vs Great Britain

7 August, 15:30 – vs Venezuela

8 August, 10:00 – vs China

CHINA

WSWC Appearances: 10

Highest finish: 2nd (1986 and 1994)

2016 finish: 17th

Ranking: 12

This will be the eleventh consecutive participation of China in the WSWC, after missing the first five editions of this event. The read team had a brilliant debut in Auckland 1986 earning the silver medal, losing the finale to USA. Eight years later China played its second and last world championship finale, losing again to USA. They have participated in every Olympic Games, winning the silver medal in softball historic Olympic debut in Atlanta 1996. China has prepared for the WSWC playing the National Pro Fastpitch season, and comes from a fourth place performance in the USA Softball International Cup. They will try to win it all in Chiba to secure a berth in Tokyo 2020.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 15:30 – vs Australia

4 August, 12:30 – vs Great Britain

4 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

5 August, 18:00 – vs Venezuela

6 August, 12:30 – vs Canada

7 August, 15:30 – vs Botswana

8 August, 10:00 – vs Italy

GREAT BRITAIN

WSWC Appearances: 6

Highest finish: 10th (2006)

2016 finish: 13th

Ranking: 14

Great Britain made its debut in the WSWC in 1994, in St. John’s, Canada. The Europeans ended in the 23rd place. They have played the last five world championships, but never advanced to the playoffs. They qualified to Chiba in the European Championship 2017, where they ended in third place, beating Czech Republic by a score of 4-1 in nine innings.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 12:30 – vs Canada

4 August, 12:30 – vs China

5 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

6 August, 15:30 – vs Italy

7 August, 10:00 – vs Botswana

7 August, 18:00 – vs Australia

8 August, 12:30 – vs Venezuela

VENEZUELA

WSWC Appearances: 8

Highest finish: 5th (2010)

2016 finish: 6th

Ranking: 17

Venezuela arrives to Chiba with a veteran team, with some of the core players of the two most successful Venezuelan softball National Teams in history: the Beijing 2008 Olympic team (its only participation in the Summer Games) and the Caracas 2010 WSWC squad that finished at fifth place as the host team. It’s their best performance ever in a world championship. On their way to Chiba, Venezuela played in the USA Softball International Cup and the Central American and Caribbean Games, where they ended at fourth place.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 10:00 – vs Australia

3 August, 18:00 – vs Canada

4 August, 14:30 – vs Botswana

5 August, 18:00 – vs China

6 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

7 August, 15:30 – vs Italy

8 August, 12:30 – vs Great Britain

BOTSWANA

WSWC Appearances: 4

Highest finish: 14th (2006 and 2014)

2016 finish: n/a

Ranking: 33

Botswana qualified to the WSWC as the African Champion, defeating South Africa in the finale of the event. In its previous four participations in the WSWC they have won only four games, for an overall record of 4-23. Botswana will try to improve this numbers, getting closer to the top ten of the world for the first time in history.

Round robin schedule:

3 August, 19:00 – vs Japan

4 August, 14:30 – vs Venezuela

5 August, 12:30 – vs Italy

6 August, 10:00 – vs Australia

7 August, 10:00 – vs Great Britain

7 August, 15:30 – vs China

8 August, 15:30 – vs Canada