Beng Choo LOW Returns as Softball Asia President.
Dato’ Low Beng Choo returned to helm Softball Asia – formerly known as Softball Confederation Asia – by popular demand of the affiliates at their 24th SA Congress at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 5th December 2018.
Low, the life president of SCA since she last relinquished the post of president in 2014 – the pos she held from 2009 to 2014 – to concentrate on her secretary general post in the Olympic Council of Malaysia then, takes over from incumbent Pan Yi Chuan from Chinese-Taipei.
Pan assumes of the newly created post of chairman of Softball Asia.
The election of the term 2018-2022 yesterday went on smoothly as the affiliates were unison in their nomination for the new term as there were no contests.
However, there was a change in the five vice-presidents as new faces were nominated and elected.
Incumbents Dr. Yang Xu (China), Syahrir Nawier (Indonesia), See Kok Wooi (Malaysia), Banyong Kiatkongchuchai (Thailand) and Choi Chulnam (Korea) were replaced with an unanimously decision to bring in new faces – Jean Henri Lhuillier (Philippines), Kim Eun Young (Korea), Kosol Yimpaiboon (Thailand), Jimmy Fong Song Kuan (Hong Kong) and Susan Zhang Xuan (China).
1st Vice President Taeko Utsugi (Japan) was returned to her post unopposed.
Incumbent, secretary generals, Sally Lim Swee Gaik (Malaysia) and Chang Chia Hsing (Chinese-Taipei) were also returned unopposed for the new term.
The Congress made two significant changes in their constitution which was unanimously accepted. The first was creation of a new post in the executive board namely Chairman.
The delegates also unanimously nominated outgoing president Pan, to be the chairman.
The second change was the change to the association’s name from Softball Confederation Asia to Softball Asia and also a new logo to go with it.
“It is an honour to be asked to helm the Softball Asia again and unanimously supported by the affiliates,” said Low who is also the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Secretary-General since 2014 who before amalgamation of the two sports, she was the secretary-general of the International Softball Federation from 2009.
“Softball has indeed grown in great leaps and bounds in Asia and with new branding of Softball Asia, we intend to further add a new life to the sports and move forward further. Softball Asia is a very active body and with softball back for the 2020 Japan Olympics after last held in 2008, we have to work harder to catch up with the rest of the world and continue to keep the sport relevant. I want to move Asia to the next level.
Indeed, it is a hectic year next year with the Olympic Games qualifier where six countries will qualify from the Asia Cup to be held in Jakarta in May 1-8, and also use this qualifier for top three teams for Women’s World Cup 2021, SEA Games in Philippines.
Low also paid tribute and thanked Pan and Japan Softball Association for their generous cash contributions to Softball Asia and also Mizuno for sponsorship of competition balls for all the tournaments.
Softball Asia 2018-2022 Exco Members:
Hon. Life President : Mr. Steven Huang Shu-Woei (TPE)
Chairman : Mr. Pan Yi Chuan (TPE)
President : Dato’ Low Beng Choo (MAS)
1st Vice President : Ms. Taeko Utsugi (JPN)
Vice Presidents :
Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier (PHI)
Ms. Kim Eun Young (KOR)
Mr. Kosol Yimpaiboon (THA)
Mr. Jimmy Fong Song Kuan (HK)
Ms. Susan Zhang Xuan (CHN)
Secretary-Generals :
Ms. Sally Lim Swee Gaik (MAS)
Mr. Chang Chia Hsing (TPE)
Advisor : Mr. Hiromi Tokuda (JPN)