Asian qualifying for the baseball tournament at next year's Beijing Olympics began yesterday in Taichung.
Seven teams are participating in the games, which last until Monday.
The qualifiers, played at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium and Taichung Baseball Stadium, are divided into two parts.
PHOTO: LIA YAO-TUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
In the first phase, which began yesterday, Asia's B-class teams -- Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Thailand -- compete in a mini-tournament.
The winner will advance to the Asian Olympic Baseball Qualifiers from Saturday to Monday, to which Asia's A-class teams -- Taiwan, Japan and South Korea -- have direct entry.
Eight teams will compete for baseball gold at the Olympics -- one each from from hosts China, Asia, Europe and two from the Americas, as well as three wild-card holders.
Europe and the Americas have already completed their qualifying games and will be represented by the Netherlands, the US and Cuba.
In March, Taiwan will hold the Special Qualifiers in which seven teams will compete for the three wild cards to the Beijing Olympics. The participants will be the No. 2 and No. 3 teams from Asia and Europe, the No. 3 from the Americas, and the No. 1 teams from Africa and Oceania.
The Beijing Games carry special significance for baseball players and fans because the International Olympic Committee has dropped the sport from future games.
Baseball is popular in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the US and parts of Latin America.
China, to assert its place as a sports giant in the world, has begun to train baseball players in recent years, using Taiwanese baseball coaches.
In yesterday's games, it was: Philippines 2, Pakistan 0; Thailand 8, Hong Kong 4.
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday pulled off a major upset in the DFB-Pokal by defeating defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1 in their semi-final. The third-division team came from behind after Jonathan Tah gave the visitors a 17th-minute lead. Marius Worl replied three minutes later and Maximilian Groser scored Bielefeld’s second goal just before the break. The home team looked more likely to add to that tally as the Leverkusen players looked jaded. “I’m just proud of this team,” Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat said as most of the fans the small stadium sang around him. “No one will sleep in the city tonight.” Patrik Schick went
THREES KINGS: The Celtics claimed a piece of league history by setting a new record for the number of threes in a season, ending their game with 1,370 Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun on Friday combined for 65 points as the Houston Rockets halted Oklahoma City’s 11-game winning streak with a statement 125-111 victory. In a potential Western Conference finals preview, the Rockets produced a dominant all-round performance to jolt the top-seeded Thunder’s all-conquering preparations for the post-season. Green finished with 34 points from 11-of-24 shooting, while Turkish big man Sengun made 31 points as second-placed Houston improved to 51-27. Oklahoma City grabbed the lead in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but Houston soon knocked the Thunder out of their stride with a physical approach to move into the
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
RSS