The hosts Chinese Taipei defeated Japan, 5-4, in the final played at the Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung to win the Asia Baseball Championship 2019 and guarantee a spot in the final Olympic Qualifier. Chinese Taipei, that had always finished second in the last four editions, hadn’t won the Asia Baseball Championship since 2001.
A bases-loaded triple by catcher Chang Chin-te and a two-run double by first baseman Chiang Chien-ming proved to be the key hits for Chinese Taipei. Relief pitcher Liu Chih-jung got a couple of strikeouts in the seventh that earned him MVP of the night honours.
Earlier in the day, China beat Korea, 8-6, claimed a bronze medal and guaranteed the second spot in the final Olympic Qualifier. Japan has already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games as the host nation.
The Philippines defeated Hong Kong China, 10-0, and Sri Lanka, 7-1, in the consolation round and finished fifth in the Asia Baseball Championship. Hong Kong China finished sixth, Sri Lanka seventh and Pakistan eighth.
The final Olympic Qualifier will happen in April 2020 in Taichung. It will also include the Netherlands (second place at the Europe/Africa Qualifier) and second and third-place finishers at the Americas Qualifier, to be played in March 2020.
