Chinese Taipei have declared they want to be in the final of the Women Softball Asia Cup 2023 at the Songdo LNG Sports Town Stadium on Saturday, which means they have to beat arch rival China in a crucial final round robin match tomorrow (12 noon local time).
Chinese Taipei after playing seven matches, have one loss to Japan (0-8), the same as China (0-4), which boils down to the match between China and Chinese Taipei, with the winner emerging runners-up after the end of round robin round tomorrow to play in the final.
With the decision to do away with the semifinals round (where the top four teams in the standings would have advanced to the semifinals – first place vs fourth place; second place vs third place) due to the postponement of matches yesterday because of bad weather and unplayable pitches, the final rankings after the end of the round robin will decide for the final and bronze medal matches on Saturday.
While Japan are tipped to complete their fixtures unbeaten, China and Chinese Taipei with one loss each to Japan, will have to battle it out against each other to determine the second spot.
While China, who finished runner-up to Japan at the last competition in Jakarta in 2019, are favorites to finish runners-up after the round robin round, Chinese Taipei have other ideas.
Chinese Taipei coach Han Hsin-Lin boldly said that her team will be in the final.
“We will be in the final and will beat China to finish second and play Japan,” said Han through interpreter Yeh Wan-Ting.
“I am happy with the progress of my team who are at 80 percent optimum. I expect the team at their full strength against China to beat them.
“We are not under estimating China, but just believe in our strength.”
Asked about the final, Han said: “We are not looking that far ahead. Right now we are just focused to reach the final. One match at a time.”
In today’s matches which resumed one hour later this morning, as ground upgrade works was underway as it was soggy and muddy in certain areas of the pitch, Chinese Taipei defeated Thailand 15-0 and Singapore 8-0 in very chilly conditions in preparation of their match against China tomorrow.
The weather remained very chilly throughout the day with temperature hovering at 11 degrees centigrade and remaining cloudy.
China, on the other hand, defeated Thailand 21-0 in the final match of the day today, to record similar number of six wins and one loss, as Chinese Taipei.
Indeed, an interesting and explosive high noon match, is on the cards between China and Chinese Taipei tomorrow.
Hosts Korea, were left disappointed having to finish fifth after their completion of the round robin round of eight matches today, with their loss 0-11 to Japan, after having won their earlier match against Singapore 8-0.
Korea who was looking forward to finish among the top four, to qualify for the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in July in Europe from this Women’s Softball Asia Cup 2023, were left ruing their fate, as they suffered their fourth loss, going down to Japan 0-11 this afternoon. Earlier in the morning, Korea defeated Singapore 8-0.
Korea’s woes started when they lost to Philippines 0-2, before going down to Chinese Taipei 1-12 and China 0-7. A win over Philippines, would have kept their hopes of finishing fourth, alive.
Philippines, kept their momentum to finish fourth in ranking at the end of the round robin robin tomorrow, when they whipped win less India 10-0 today. Philippine play Japan in their final round robin match tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the top four teams in the Women Softball Asia Cup 2023 at the end of then round robin rounds will be determined and qualify as Asia’s representative to the to the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in July in Europe.
On Saturday, will see the third placing and final played, to determine the final top four standings in the Women Softball Asia Cup 2023.
Japan are the defending champions, China runners-up, Chinese Taipei bronze medalist and Philippines fourth, in the last championship in Jakarta in 2019.
TODAY’S RESULT
Korea 8 Singapore 0
Japan 17 Hong Kong 0
India 0 Philippines 10
Thailand 0 Chinese Taipei 15
Japan 11 Korea 0
Chinese Taipei 8 Singapore 0
China 21 Thailand 0
India 0 Hong Kong 13
TOMORROW’S FINAL ROUND ROBIN MATCHES
Hong Kong Singapore
Thailand India
Chinese Taipei China
Japan Philippines