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Softball world title staged in Europe for first time showcases growth
of women's sport in new markets
HAARLEM, Netherlands
-- Japan defeated the United States, 4-1, to win the first ever
Women's Softball World Championship held in Europe, highlighting
softball's continued expansion beyond traditional geographic boundaries
as one of the world's most commercially successful, and popular
spectator and participation sports for women, young girls and families.
Australia earned the bronze to spread the medal distribution of the
women's championship among the Americas, Asia and Oceania. (See Photos.)
"We are developing the sports of softball and baseball in many
areas such as the Muslim world, in Africa, and in Europe where
interest, awareness, and club numbers and players are continuing to
grow on this historic, sports loving continent, the cradle of modern
sport,"said World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
President, Riccardo Fraccari.
Japan,
the 2008 Olympic softball champions, finished softball's pinnacle
global event with a perfect tournament record of 10-0, fueling further
national speculation, interest and excitement in Japan about the
possible inclusion of softball and baseball, the two most popular
sports in the 2020 Olympic host nation, at the Tokyo Games.
With
the Olympic sports selection process up for discussion at the IOC
Session in Monaco in December, leadership of the WBSC, the recently
merged international baseball and softball confederation, remains
committed to working with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organisers to earn the
honour of having the sports included at the Olympic Games.
"Japan,
like many other countries around the world, is a baseball and softball
nation, and we are doing all we can to maximize the added-value that
our bat-and-ball sports would deliver to the Olympic Games,"
President Fraccari said.
"We
believe that the deep national history, pride and passion for baseball
and softball in Japan, at all levels of Japanese society, would enable
these sports to bring great value and enhance the Olympic
experience at the Tokyo Games and for the 2020 Olympic host nation
of Japan."
"The
ten-day spectacle of women's sport highlighted softball's growing
global popularity as one of the world's premier sports for women,"
said Dale McMann, WBSC Executive Vice President.
The
XIV Women's Softball Championship featured sixteen national teams --
the maximum allowed -- from five world regions, and included
Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Czech
Republic, Dominican Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia and United States.
"This
was a premium event, with teams from three different continents in the
top three," said Low Beng Choo, WBSC Secretary General.
"The
medal distribution from the Americas to Asia and Oceania highlights the
global spread and excellence of the sport and the athletes, and
increases opportunities and awareness of women's sport," Low said.
The
attention will now shift to Miyazaki, Japan for the ENEOS Presents Women's Baseball
World Cup 2014, which begins September 1.
*
14th Women's Softball World Championship
Final Standings
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1.
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Japan
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2.
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United States
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3.
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Australia
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4.
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Canada
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5.
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Chinese Taipei
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6.
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Netherlands
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7.
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China
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8.
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New Zealand
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9.
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Cuba
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Italy
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11.
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Czech Republic
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12.
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Dominican Republic
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13.
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Russia
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14.
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Botswana
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15.
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Puerto Rico
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16.
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Great Britain
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