(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Korea Makes History with First-Ever Bronze at WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025
Team Korea celebrated a milestone moment at the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup 2025 as they defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0 in the Bronze Medal Game, claiming their first podium finish in tournament history.
The match, held in Tainan, Taiwan, was a rematch of the previous day’s Super Round clash, where Chinese Taipei had won 11-5. But in this high-stakes rematch, Korea turned the tables with a strong defensive performance and a complete-game shutout by standout pitcher Yunseo Kwon.
Historic Win for Korea
Coming into the game, Korea had never beaten Chinese Taipei at the U-12 level. But on Sunday, they ended that streak in spectacular fashion. The bronze medal not only marked their first-ever win over Chinese Taipei in the tournament, but also their best-ever overall finish. Previously, Korea’s top result was a fourth-place finish in 2019.
Key Moments from the Game
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After a quiet start, Korea took the lead in the third inning with Leo Yang’s single and some clever baserunning.
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In the fifth inning, Jeongwoo Ha extended the lead to 2-0 with a single up the middle, allowing Donghyun Min to score.
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Pitcher Yunseo Kwon delivered a dominant performance, keeping Chinese Taipei scoreless and calm under pressure.
“I was a little nervous, but I believed in the team,” said Kwon. “This medal means everything. It feels like I’m flying.”
Manager Reaction: A Moment of Pride
Korea’s manager, Geyeoun Kang, praised his team for their growth and resilience:
“This is a huge tournament. Beating USA for the first time and then winning bronze is a great achievement for Korean baseball,” Kang said.
He acknowledged that pitching restrictions challenged their rotation, but the decision to start Kwon proved crucial:
“He has strong fastballs, and he’s a key reason we earned this medal.”
Disappointment for Chinese Taipei
For Chinese Taipei, this marked the first time they finished off the podium in U-12 World Cup history. Their impressive legacy includes two gold medals, four silver, and one bronze in the past seven editions.
Despite a strong tournament and home-field advantage, they couldn’t find an answer to Korea’s pitching and defense in the final game.
Tournament Recap
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Korea went unbeaten in the Opening Round, including a historic 6-2 win over USA.
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After losses to Japan and Chinese Taipei in the Super Round, they bounced back with their best performance when it mattered most.
This thrilling bronze medal game capped off an exciting edition of the WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup, showcasing the rising stars of global baseball and delivering unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.
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