Softball Asia president and secretary-general of World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Datuk Low Beng Choo, did not waste anytime getting down to work despite a 15 hour trip to reach Kochi, Japan from Kuala Lumpur, when she immediately made courtesy calls to the Governor and Mayor of Kochi, who will be hosting the U18 Men Softball Asia Cup and Men’s Softball Asia Cup.
“It is great to be back in Kochi after they hosted 1st U-23 Men’s Softball Asia Cup and the 11th Men’s Softball Asia Cup last September in Shimanto in the Kochi Prefecture,” said Low.
“The Governor and Major this time decided that the U18 Men Asia Cup and the Men’s Asia Cup be held in Kochi itself and have given tremendous support to Japan’ Softball Association (JSA) to host the tournaments. And it is also respectful that I make a courtesy call to both Governor Seiji Hamada and Mayor Seiya Okazaki of Kochi to thank them personally,” said Low.
“And I am thankful that both the gentleman made time to meet me and I must thank JSA president Yutaka Miyake and executive director of JSA Tomoaki Okamoto, who is from Kochi, for arranging to meet them and thank them personally.”
In meeting both the Governor and Mayor, Low expressed her confidence that after having hosted last year’s tournament, she was confident of their capabilities of another successful hosting.
“Last year despite bad weather which saw rain create havoc, the tournament was completed successfully thanks to the hardworking staff who handled the tournament. I feel if the staff and ground crew could manage the tournament under such adverse conditions last year, they are fully capable of handing any challenges.”
Both Governor Seiji Hamada and Mayor Seiya Okazaki in their meeting with Datuk Low, thanked Softball Asia for giving Japan and choosing Kochi as the venue for another two prestigious tournaments this year.
Present at the meetings were also deputy Mayor of Kochi, Shinji Nakazawa, president of Kochi Softball Association, Yuji Yamamoto and vice president Fumitaka Mitsuishi – both members of parliament,Shinsuke Yabata, secretary-generasl JSA, Hiromichi Yamawaki, deputy director of Kochi City Civic Cooperation Department, Nakagusuku, manager Kochi City Civic Cooperation Department, Nakagusuku and Kochi Prefecture Sport promotion department Mitani.
The U18 Men Softball Asia Cup 2023 starts tomorrow morning and ends on Saturday and will be followed by the Men Asia Cup on Sunday and ends of June 28.
