(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Chengdu Hosts Top Women’s Softball Teams Ahead of The World Games Tournament
Eight of the world’s top 10 women’s softball teams from four continents have arrived in Chengdu, China, ready to compete for gold at The World Games starting Wednesday at the Xindu Better City Softball Arena. The tournament’s final is set for Sunday, promising thrilling action.
Following an exciting Men’s Softball competition, all eyes now turn to the Women’s event, which serves as an important step for teams preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With the Olympic qualification process still to be confirmed, this tournament, along with the upcoming WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in 2026/2027, is crucial for teams’ LA28 campaigns.
The eight teams are divided into two groups for the opening round:
Group A: USA (#2), Chinese Taipei (#5), Netherlands (#6), China (#10)
Group B: Japan (#1), Puerto Rico (#3), Canada (#4), Australia (#8)
Group A Preview:
USA, defending champions from The World Games 2022, are strong favorites. Though they lost top ranking to Japan after recent tournaments, they aim to reclaim dominance on home soil ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Chinese Taipei, bronze medalists at the last World Games, and the Netherlands, with a historic bronze from 1985, will battle for semifinal spots alongside host nation China. The Chinese team, returning after missing Tokyo 2020, hopes to reassert itself among the world’s elite.
Group B Preview:
World champions and Olympic gold medalists Japan lead Group B and are expected to advance comfortably. Japan’s recent victories include the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold and the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup, and a win in Chengdu would complete a clean sweep of major titles. Puerto Rico, ranked third globally, seeks their first major medal, while Canada, consistent bronze medalists at World Cups and the Tokyo Olympics, look to build on recent success. Australia, a traditional softball powerhouse with four Olympic medals, aims to return to the podium after a challenging 2024 season.
Fans can look forward to high-level competition as these elite teams prepare for the road to LA28 and beyond.
