China achieved a historic milestone by finishing fourth at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Under-23 Baseball World Cup held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Despite a 3-1 loss to Nicaragua in the bronze medal game on Sunday morning, the hosts secured their best-ever performance in the tournament.
The bronze medal clash saw Nicaragua take an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning and adding another in the third. China’s resilience shone through when Zhu Xudong sprinted across home plate after a well-placed hit to left field by Zhou Yi in the third inning, marking their sole run of the game.
This tournament marked China’s inaugural participation in the U23 World Cup. Impressively, they surpassed expectations by not only competing but also breaking into the top six—a first for any Chinese team at this level across all age categories.
Throughout the group stage, China demonstrated tenacity and skill, securing three wins against two losses. Advancing to the Super Round, they faced a challenging 7-2 defeat against South Korea but bounced back with a thrilling 6-5 victory over Venezuela. Their momentum continued with a 4-0 shutout against Nicaragua on Saturday, highlighted by starting pitcher Zhao Wei’s complete game performance.
In the championship game, Japan clinched the title with a 5-0 win over Puerto Rico, lifting the trophy for the second consecutive time.
The tournament featured 12 teams divided into two groups, each playing five round-robin games across seven innings. The top three teams from each group moved into the Super Round, carrying over their initial records. The top two from this stage advanced to contend for gold, while the third and fourth-placed teams competed for bronze.
China’s remarkable journey in the U23 World Cup not only showcases the growing talent in Chinese baseball but also ignites hope and enthusiasm for the sport’s future in the country. Their performance has inspired fans and set a new benchmark for the national team in international baseball competitions.
