Baseball Federation of Asia president Jeffrey Koo Jr on Wednesday returned to Taiwan after a week of federation events in Thailand, including the first executive committee meeting of his presidential term.
Koo attended other baseball events, including a ceremony to unveil the plaque at the Southeast Asia Baseball Development and Training Center, the donation of sports materials to Thailand’s youth and little leagues, and a three-day referees’ seminar.
“Baseball referees must direct and arbitrate the game like an orchestra conductor,” said Katsuhito Koyama, a Japanese referee with 37 years of experience who was speaking at the seminar for the third time. “Professional referees are crucial to the development of baseball.”
Photo Courtesy of the Baseball Federation of Asia
Ishara Chathuranga, a Sri Lankan who also attended a previous referees’ seminar and has aspirations to officiate international games, said that this year’s event was a valuable learning experience that contributed to his professional growth.
Koo said that the federation must prioritize integration of resources from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to achieve uniformity of standards across member states if a project to establish an “Asian major league” is to succeed.
There are 12 provincial teams in China from which a professional league of four to six teams is to be formed, Koo said, adding that were the sport to go professional in that country, it would be a major boost fot the planned Asian league.
Photo courtesy of the Baseball Federation of Asia
Koo’s ties with the sport began as a boy in Japan, when he was vice captain and a pitcher on his high-school team. As an entrepreneur, Koo established the CTBC Charitable Foundation’s youth baseball program, sponsored the CTBC Brothers in Taiwan’s CPBL and facilitated the CTBC Cup Black Panther High School Baseball Tournament, the biggest event in Taiwanese youth baseball.
Koo became involved in Taiwan’s CTBA governing body and as its president turned the organization’s attention to improving the professional environment for young players, boosting the recruitment of baseball talent.
His efforts played a significant role in garnering support for baseball from Taiwanese corporations.
“My hope is to share my experience of promoting baseball in Taiwan with other Asian countries and for all of us to work together to form an Asian major league,” he said.
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