Targeting millions of youth, Asian Baseball and Softball bodies launch 5-on-5 ‘WBSC-Asia Baseball5 Commission’

Lausanne, July 11, 2019: WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari today applauded the leaders of the BFA and Softball Asia for having signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the WBSC-Asia Baseball5 Commission.

The mission of the new commission is to promote and develop the new five-on-five Baseball5 discipline across Asia, attracting more youth and athletes to the already 65 million people who practice baseball and softball in over 140 countries.

Fraccari said, “and this joint venture by the Baseball Federation of Asia and Softball Asia, which targets millions of potential athletes across Asia, is a great reflection of this.”

The commission chair by the current President of Softball Asia, Beng Choo Low, who is also WBSC Secretary General.

The commission composes of four members representing equally each of the two continental bodies.

Beng Choo Low said:

“Looking ahead to the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup, planning for the first WBSC-Asia Baseball5 competition for Asian teams in the near future.

Baseball5 can be an invaluable tool for allowing people to access our sport especially in urban and densely populated areas that often characterize our continent.”

Lately, countries like Canada and Argentina have formed similar bodies at the national level. WBSC Europe also recently formed its urban Baseball5 Working Group.

The first WBSC-Asia collaboration was the WBSC-Asia Coaching Seminar, which held from 8-9 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At this session, the coaches certification process started for several Asian countries in the region.

For more information, visit www.wbsc.org, which is available six languages: English, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Traditional Chinese. —- WBSC