Montigny le Bretonneux, France, hosted from Saturday 8 to Wednesday 12 February a Women's Baseball Clinic. The event was organised thanks to a partnership between the French Baseball and Softball Federation (FFBBS), the Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ) and the Japanese Olympic Committee.
The Clinic was run by Lahcène Benhamida, the manager of the French Women's Baseball National Team, and Akiko Shikura, the manager of Madonna Japan, the Japanese National Team. World champion players, including three-time MVP Ayami Sato, supported their coaches.
A total of 45 athletes from France and Belgium participated, including the core of the French National Team, that will compete for the first time in September in the Women's Baseball World Cup in Mexico.
The collaboration between the two National Teams of France and Japan is aimed at boosting women’s baseball in France and potentially sourcing new players for the French National Team. The Japanese delegation also met with the Japanese Ambassador in France as well as students from the French-Japanese cultural institute in Montigny.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to train with some of the biggest stars of our sport and want to thank the Japanese players for their time and commitment," said Raina Hunter, a former long-time French Women’s Softball National Team player who is now part of the National Baseball Team and won the 2019 Women’s European Baseball Championship. "It was an amazing experience to learn from the best and get to know a completely different culture and playing style. I’m happy to see women’s baseball grow in France and would like to thank FFBS and BFJ for the organisation of this clinic.”
More pictures on the Facebook page of FFBS
