The Japanese Women’s National Softball Team continued their dominance of the Asian Games with a 4-0 win over China in the gold medal game of the Hangzou 2022 Asian Games on Monday. Japan has won the last six softball competitions in a row. Chinese Taipei clinched the bronze medal in a 3-2 drama against the Philippines.
Led by Miu Goto and Yukiko Ueno from the circle, Japan claimed their sixth gold medal in the softball competition. The two super-star pitchers combined for the shutout, striking out 14 batters, while giving up seven hits and one walk.
Ueno has been part of the six Japanese teams to win consecutive gold medals in the Asiad since 2002. She also owns three Olympic medals (gold at Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020 as well as a bronze medal at Athens 2004), and five World Cup medals (two world championships and three silvers).
“Honestly, I am relieved for this win,” Ueno said. “Goto was stable from the first inning. I was watching her pitches in peace. I would like her to be able to go the full distance and take over as the ace in our staff.”
Goto, who also won a gold medal in Tokyo 2020, started the game for Japan and tossed 4.2 dominant innings, striking out eight. “By participating here, I experienced a lot of things, such as staying in the (Athletes’) Village. Things (here) are similar to the Olympic Games,” she said. “The Chinese team is strong and they staged this Asian Games on a large scale. It felt like the Olympic Games.”
Asked about the game, she praised the presence of Ueno behind her. “She can build a sense of security. When I was pitching, I was thinking as though she was with us, and the feeling gave me a sense of relief. Since I was substituted by her, I was watching the match with peace of mind.”
On the offensive side, first base Minori Naito hit a clutch home run in the bottom of the first inning to give Goto an early lead in the game. “I think that the ball was straight but slightly curving. It was the first inning and I wanted to make sure to relay to the next player. So I swung compactly,” Naito said after the game. “I was watching the pitcher a day before yesterday. I got her pitches into my mind. I could have properly waited the best opportunity to swing.”
Naito acknowledges pitching and defence are Japan’s biggest strength. “Not only today, but Japan is always a defensive and pitcher-led team. So we wanted to score in the early innings. Despite having such great pitchers in our team, we shouldn’t rely only on them.”
Asked about the future, Naito said: “We have the World Championship Finals next year. We want to focus on that to make sure we build a team that can play well against our opponents at the championships.”
In the bronze medal game, Chinese Taipei outlasted the Philippines, 3-2, in a thrilling game. With a 3-1 advantage in the seventh inning, the Philippines loaded the bases with two outs and then Alaiza Talisik singled up the middle to score Mary Joe Maguad. However, Skylyne Ellazar was thrown out at second base in the same play to end the match.
Feng-Chen Lin hit a clutch two-run home run in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 deadlock and give Chinese Taipei the lead. Hsia-Ai Ke won the game after five innings of work, allowing six hits and one run, while striking out five.
Tournament summary
