More than 600 boys and girls from 21 state teams participated in a Baseball5 demonstration and training event at Cuttack, Odisha. The introductory sessions, organised by the Softball Association of India, took place during the Indian Sub Junior National Softball Championship from 5-9 January and follows the news announced on Wednesday that Baseball5 has been included in the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022.
In India, the participants learnt the rules and basic skills before enjoying some Baseball5 friendly games.
In November 2019 the WBSC introduced Baseball5 in the country with a workshop for 60 people.
On Wednesday, the IOC Executive Board approved the inclusion of Baseball5 as a medal sport in the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022. It will be the first time baseball softball features at a Youth Olympic Games and it will also be the first Olympic team sport to feature mixed-gender teams.
Meanwhile, the qualification process for the inaugural Baseball5 World Cups will start in April. The WBSC Asia Baseball5 Commission has invited all Asian members to participate in the Asian Cup Baseball5, both for open age and U-15 categories. The winner of these events will represent Asia in the first-ever Baseball5 World Cups, slated to be played in Mexico in December.
