2006-06-17
BEIJING, June 14 -- China hopes to regain the glory of 10 years ago when they host the International Softball Federation Women's World Championships in Beijing from August 27 to September 5.
A reshuffled team filled with young and promising players led by former US national team coach Michael Bastian hopes to be back on track, inspired by the honour of hosting the tournament this year and the Olympics in 2008.
Since winning the Olympic silver medal in 1996 in Atlanta, the team has not been in the top three in the World Championships, finishing fourth in both the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens.
That gold medal game in Atlanta, a thriller won by the United States 3-1, remains China's most memorable one. The Chinese had a chance to etch their names in history as the sport made its Olympic debut.
But their determined rivals and a couple of controversial calls against China frustrated their efforts. In the top of the third inning with no score, team backbone Zhang Chunfang was called out at home plate on a steal attempt despite TV replays apparently showing that Zhang was safe.
In the bottom of the same inning, the US team took a 2-0 lead on a home run by Dot Richardson down the right-field line that Swedish umpire Geralyn Lindberg ruled fair, but Chinese right fielder Qiang Wei thought was foul. Coach Li Minkuan's nine-minute appeal through an interpreter to home plate umpire Lucie Carmichael of Canada failed to change minds, and replays seemed to support Lindberg's call.
With the victory, the US team continued their supremacy in the softball world, winning the world championships in 1998 in Japan and 2002 in Canada as well as Olympic golds in Sydney and Athens.
Bastian said his team is now ready.
"We have worked a lot on confidence and believe that we can be the best in the world," said Bastian, who became the second foreign coach of the Chinese national softball team after Canadian Shan McDonald.
Regaining confidence
The team's confidence took a beating since they did nothing of note after winning their third straight championship at the 1998 Asian Games.
In 2002, they lost the Asian title to fast-improving Japan in Busan, South Korea, and bowed to its Asian neighbour in the bronze medal match in Athens.
However, Bastian, who has held softball clinics around the world, believes in the potential of the Chinese players. He was invited to coach the team last year after running a a clinic for them in Kunming, Yunnan Province.
"Physically, there is no real difference between the players," he said. "The biggest thing I am teaching them is how to compete and fight."
Bastian hopes his team can pick up confidence specifically in offensive play.
"Around the world, China softball teams have been known for defence and great pitching," Bastian said. "But what kept us from finishing in the top three and winning the gold medal is our inability to score runs."
Power play
Like McDonald, who coached the team in Athens, Bastian is a firm believer in a powerful attack, a departure from the more defensive philosophy of the past.
He also echoed one doubt that McDonald expressed.
"To be very frank, many Chinese coaches in the past didn't believe the Chinese players were able to hit the ball far enough," McDonald said.
Bastian's work in that area has paid off. In a tour of the United States in April, China hit 13 home runs, more than he had ever seen before, against several top-notch college teams.
"What I am trying to make is a balanced offence and a combination of speed and power and make the game unpredictable," Bastian said.
"I think we can see some exciting results this summer."
The World Championships will test his new theory, and although modest Chinese officials have said the team is targeting any medal, Bastian and his players have set their sights higher.
"I think we can win the gold medal and make the Chinese people proud," Bastian said
Building up for 2008
For China, the Beijing event is not only the place to seek past glory, but also to start building for the 2008 Olympics, which will be held at the Fengtai Softball Fields, the first Olympic venue to be completed.
"The current team is what we are preparing for the 2008 Games," said Jiang Xiuyun, vice-head of the Chinese Softball Association.
The World Championship will also be the first test event for the Games.
Although his contract will end in December, Bastian said he would stay with the team up to 2008.
"I am very satisfied that right now we have a core group of players that I am able to train with consistency," he said.
"I honestly believe with this core group of players, we will be right there competing for the gold medal for the Olympic Game in 2008." (Source: China Daily)
Pictured above, a large crowd gathers in Beijing to commemorate World Softball Day, with a specially made “WORLD SOFTBALL DAY – ENJOY SOFTBALL” banner as the backdrop. (Photo by Wupeng from Chinese sport web)
