DAY 1 BASEBALL 5 YOUTH ASIA CUP
It was the clash of two gigantic nations, China and India, in the opening match of the inaugural Baseball 5 Youth (U18) Asia Cup this morning at the Berjaya Times Square Ballroom in Kuala Lumpur, but China proved to be in a different class in the game, with a convincing 2-0 victory (36-0; 25-0).
The Chinese team were superior in all quarters – speed, agility, understanding of the game and their commitment in game.
The Indian team who were the last to arrive for the tournament (late last night), were raw to the game and were hardly in the game, as China ran riot around them.
To add to the Indian team’s woes, their team only comprise of the minimum 5 players, instead of the 8 allowed to be registered.
Hosts Malaysia who played in the second match of the day, after a first game setback, when they went down 2-5 to Korea, bounced back with a convincing 14-0 in the second game to force a rubber game, to decide the winner.
In the decider, Malaysia got off to a good start with a 3 run lead in the first inning and to a 5-1 lead in the second, before Korea came back strongly as Malaysia held on for a 5-3 victory.
Malaysian coach Winson Low said his players were a little overawed by the occasion in the first game when they went down 2-5, but came back strongly in the second when they were more settled for the convincing 14-0 win.
“In the decider, we did what we had to do win the game as the Koreans were attacking our weakness, but we did well to hold on and keep them at bay to win,” said Winson who is also an international baseball umpire.
Winson declared that it is the aim of his team to reach the final.
“I am not under-estimating any team here, but it is just that I believe in my team. If there any teams whom I think will be a threat to us, it will be Chinese Taipei and Korea,” said Winson.
Chinese Taipei, indeed proved to be the team to watch out for in the competition when they outran Hong Kong 2-0 (11-0; 17-2) in their opening later after Malaysia’s match.
Then, they went on to defeat Malaysia 2-0 (8-2; 7-3) in their second match of the day in the afternoon.
“All is not lost, We still remained focused to reach the final meet Chinese Taipei again,” said Winson.
“We knew it was a difficult game for us to beat Chinese Taipei, but were not outclassed. In the second game, we were even leading by 3 runs till the third inning.
“It was more a game to see how we fared against Chinese Taipei and return even stronger when we meet again.”
China on the other hand, too went to chalk their second win of the day later, when defeated Singapore 2-0 (16-1; 13-1).
Korea after their setback against Malaysia, kept their hopes alive for the Super round (top four teams from the seven countries competing) when they downed India 2-0 (25-0; 15-0).
In the final game for the day, win less Hong Kong and Singapore fought tooth and nail for their victory.
In the first game, the winner had o be decided on a tie-breaker after both teams were tied 12-12 after five innings.
In the tie-breaker, the teams play and complete extra inning(s) until one team scorers more run than the opponent. (the first extra inning will start with a runner on 1st base; the 2nd inning will begin with runners in 1st and 2nd base).
Singapore won the tie breaker, 13-12.
But in the second game Hong Kong were on fire to race to lead by 19 runs and won 19-1 to force a rubber set.
However, Singapore saved the best for last in another close encounter set to win narrowly 11-10 for a 2-1 triumph, leaving Hong Kong without a win after day 1 and two matches.
Baseball5 is WBSC’s new urban version of Baseball-Softball. This new 5-on-5 sport discipline was officially introduced by WBSC in 2017, where you need only bases, 1 ball and a filed-of-play measuring 1800 cm x 2100 cm. Hence the name “base + ball + 5”, Baseball5”.
Since its introduction, it has grown exponentially all over the world because of its “Sport made simple” concept. The Youth category of this new sport-discipline has been included in the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026.
RESULTS (OPENING ROUND DAY 1):
China 2 India 0 (36-0; 25-0)
Korea 1 Malaysia 2 (5-2; 0-14; 3-5)
Chinese Taipei 2 Hong Kong 0 (11-0; 17-2)
Singapore 0 China 2 (1-16; 1-13)
India 0 Korea 2 (0-25; 0-15)
Malaysia 0 Chinese Taipei 2 (2-8; 3-7)
Hong Kong 1 Singapore 2 (12-13; 19-1; 10-11)
