China achieved a milestone at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-23 (U23) Baseball World Cup held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Finishing fourth, the hosts demonstrated their growing prowess in international baseball.
In the bronze medal game on Sunday morning, China faced Nicaragua and narrowly lost 3-1. Despite the defeat, this marks China's best-ever performance at the U23 World Cup.
Nicaragua took an early lead with two runs in the first inning and added another in the third. China's sole run came from Zhu Xudong, who scored after Zhou Yi's hit to left field in the third inning.
The tournament saw Japan clinch the championship by defeating Puerto Rico 5-0, securing their second consecutive title.
This was China's inaugural participation in the U23 World Cup, where they had never previously reached the top six in any age-level competition. The tournament featured 12 teams divided into two groups, each playing five round-robin games.
China advanced from the group stage with three wins and two losses but faced a setback in the Super Round, losing to South Korea 7-2 in their first match. They bounced back by defeating Venezuela 6-5 on Friday and achieved their first shutout of the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Nicaragua on Saturday, thanks to starting pitcher Zhao Wei's outstanding performance.
China's remarkable journey in the U23 World Cup highlights their rapid development in baseball, setting a strong foundation for future international competitions.
Reference(s):
China make history by finishing fourth at WBSC U23 Baseball World Cup
cgtn.com
