TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's U18 baseball team prepares to open its World Cup campaign Friday (Sept. 5) against China in Okinawa, Japan, as the island nation seeks to reclaim baseball's premier youth championship. Head coach Liao Hung-yuan (廖宏淵) leads a squad determined to improve on consecutive runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023, having arrived in Okinawa Aug. 27 for intensive preparation. The team has been fine-tuning its strategy through practice games against Japanese and American opponents ahead of the tournament opener.
Chung I-en (鍾亦恩), a left-handed pitcher recently signed by the Rakuten Monkeys (樂天桃猿隊) in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League, will start the opening game against China. Despite his slender build at 182 cm (6 feet) tall and weighing 62 kg (137 pounds), Chung's fastball reaches 143 kph (89 mph), making him a formidable mound presence. Coach Liao noted that the team includes seven pitchers, with Chung among the top choices for starting assignments in the tournament.
The preliminary round of the 32nd U18 Baseball World Cup runs until Monday (Sept. 9), with Taiwan competing in Group B alongside Australia, China, Germany, Panama, and the United States. The top three teams from each group will advance to the next round, beginning Thursday (Sept. 11), setting up crucial matchups for tournament advancement. Taiwan hopes to build on its 2019 championship victory as it navigates through this competitive field of international opponents.
Fans eagerly await Taiwan's performance in this prestigious tournament, with high expectations for another championship run following the team's 2019 triumph. The team's success in the preliminary rounds will prove crucial for advancing through the tournament bracket and potentially reclaiming the coveted international title. Taiwan's baseball program continues to demonstrate its strength on the global stage through consistent World Cup appearances and competitive performances. ◼