Top seed Chinese Taipei keeps their Tokyo hopes alive

Top seed Chinese Taipei keeps their Tokyo hopes alive
25/09/2019

Chinese Taipei got back on track in the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the Shanghai Chongming Sports Training Center with their 7-0 win over Hong Kong China in five innings.

Chinese Taipei got back on track in the WBSC Softball Asia/Oceania Qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the Shanghai Chongming Sports Training Center with their 7-0 win over Hong Kong China in five innings.

Chinese Taipei, the top seed in the tournament, were relived with the win after their opening game defeat to Australia (1-5), while Hong Kong China have put themselves in a precarious position with the defeat as they meet Australia in their final Group B match.

Hong Kong had in their opening game defeated Indonesia in a close 6-5 victory.

Both teams had started the game with changes to their starting line-up this morning.

Chinese Taipei made two changes to their starting line from their first game against Australia, bringing in infield player Liu Hsuan for Shin Chieh-Pei and pitcher Chiu An-Ju for Lin Ying-Hsin

Hong Kong China also made two changes to their line-up which saw them starting with Chan Yuen Wei for Chan Wing Sun for the off field position and pitcher Leung Tak Yi for Tang Wai Sun.

They also moved Marica Wong Ka-Yan from centre to catcher.

Both teams started aggressively to take the lead but it was Chinese Taipei playing as home team, who went ahead with two runs through first batter Yen Yi, when fourth batter Chen Chia-Yi sends a fly out to the left field and Su Yi-Hsuan scores the second following Yang Ti-Ting singles to the centre field.

It was only in the fifth innings when Chinese Taipei decided to bunt on their consecutive occasions to load their bases and a sacrifice fly to put Hong Kong out with runs from Liu Hsuan, Ho Yi-Fan, Yen Yi, Su Yi-Hsuan and Li Szu Shih.

Chinese Taipei coach Yang Shien-Ming said he was glad they have renewed their hopes of their Olympic ticket with this victory after their opening defeat.

“It was not an easy game and there is not going to be any easy game. But we just glad that we still have a chance to make the Super round.

“We play Indonesia tomorrow and we are not taking them lightly. We may have lost a game, but we feel strongly we should make the Super round.”

Hong Kong China coach Den Oshima said that Chinese Taipei was in a different class over them.

“We tried hard, but we made defensive errors especially when fielding the ball to bases. We had worked hard on it, but it was not good enough today.

“Against Australia it is going to be an uphill task, but we are not throwing in the towel yet. Anything can happen and it will be important for us to hit low if we are to do well.”