Arise, Spirit of Sport!

Heroes in international competitions

By the time our magazine first appeared in 1976, Taiwan’s two major track-and-field stars—“Asia’s Iron Man” C.K. Yang and the “Leaping Antelope” Chi Cheng—were already internationally famous. In our story about Yang published in March of 1980, there is a photo of him and Chi carrying the torch on the final lap for the Taiwan Area Games, symbolizing their passing of the baton to future generations.

Taiwan Panorama has featured many of the athletes who have continued to carry that torch, including:

 • Golfers Lu Liang-huan, Tony Hsieh, and Tu Ai-yu, who laid the foundation for the sport in Taiwan;

 • The Chinese Taipei women’s soccer team, winners of three straight AFC Women’s Asian Cup titles (1977, 1980, 1981);

 • Hwang Ken-man, winner of the world professional wrestling (judo) contest held in Korea in the unlimited weight category for three straight years (1979‡81);

 • Tsai Wen-i, winner of a bronze medal in weightlifting at the Los Angeles Olympics, the third competitor from Taiwan after Yang and Chi to win an Olympic medal (1984);

 • Chen Yi-an, a gold medalist in taekwondo (a demonstration event) at the Seoul Olympics (1988);

 • The national baseball team, which took silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and reignited the fever for Taiwan’s “triple crown” baseball achievements (1992); 

 • Wang Hui-chen, winner of a gold medal in the 200 meters sprint in a record-setting performance at the Asian Games in Hiroshima;

 • The men’s national basketball team, which took home a gold medal for the first time in 43 years at the East Asian Games in Pusan, Korea (1997);

 • The Chinese Taipei team at the Asian Games in Thailand, winners of 19 gold medals and covered in a Taiwan Panorama article called “A New Record!” (1998);

 • “Taekwondo Dream Team” members Chen Shih-hsin and Chu Mu-yen, gold medalists at the Athens Olympics (2004);

 • Wang Chien-ming, who made it to Major League Baseball in the US as a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees (2005);

 • Kevin Lin, champion of the first 4 Deserts ultramarathon series (2006);

 • The Jingmei Girls’ High School tug-of-war team, winners of multiple titles home and abroad, who were the subject of a Taiwan Panorama report that testified to their extraordinary team spirit (2013);

 • Successful athletes from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021), including Kuo Hsing-chun, gold medalist in weightlifting; Lee Chih-kai, silver medalist in the pommel horse (Taiwan’s first-ever gymnastics medal); Tai Tzu-ying, silver medalist in badminton women’s singles; and Wang Chi-lin and Lee Yang, gold medalists in badminton men’s doubles (who successfully defended their title in Paris in 2024, becoming legends in the badminton world); all of whom were excellent representatives of the spirit of Taiwan.

In addition, stories featuring tennis player Hsieh Su-wei, table tennis athletes Chuang Chih-yuan and Lin Yun-ju, boxers Lin Yu-ting and Huang Hsiao-wen, and rising-star taekwondo practitioner Lo Chia-ling, all showed the world Taiwan’s never-say-die soul.

Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin struck gold at two consecutive Olympic games, an unprecedented achievement in Olympic badminton men’s doubles.

Huang Hsiao-wen won the bronze medal in the women’s boxing 51-kilogram weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Games, writing a new page in the history of pugilism in Taiwan. (photo by Lin Min-hsuan) 

Wang Hui-chen held the Asian record for the women’s 200-meter sprint. (photo by Wang Ho-yi)

At only 19 years of age, Lo Chia-ling took the bronze medal in the women’s taekwondo 57-kilogram weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Lu Liang-huan, a legendary figure in Taiwan’s golf world, was the first golfer from Taiwan to make an impression in the West. (photo by Yang Yong-shan, Ouyang Chihting)

Chuang Chih-yuan ranked third in the world in 2003, the highest ranking ever achieved by a Taiwanese table-tennis men’s singles player.

Tai Tzu-ying was already an internationally known player at 15, and was Taiwan’s first women’s world badminton champion.

Lee Chih-kai won silver in the pommel horse event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Taiwanese to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics.

Javelin thrower Cheng Chao-tsun took home the gold medal at the 2017 Universiade, setting a new Asian record.

Taiwan’s top woman tennis player Wang Shi-ting ranked 26th in the world in 1992, making her the leading ethnic Chinese tennis player of her era. (photo by Tang Ken-li)

The glory and rebirth of baseball

Baseball has long played a part in the collective emotions of the people of Taiwan.

In 1968, the Hongye Elementary School’s team beat the powerhouse Japanese champs, and thereafter the Golden Dragons and other teams had international success one after another, turning Taiwan into a “Little League kingdom” and driving development of the island’s Junior League and Senior League teams. In those days, people stayed up all night to watch the games on TV and cheer for the teams, and the players enjoyed colorful parades upon their return, with fresh flowers and streamers. Together these events constituted a thrilling chapter for Taiwan’s people.

Starting in 1984, Taiwan Panorama produced a series of articles on baseball in Taiwan, on topics including the revitalization of baseball on the island, the Hongye team, the 100th anniversary of baseball in Taiwan, and the winning of the “triple crown” (Little, Senior and Big Leagues) in 1977, recording the highs and lows of the sport. In 2012, the story “Kuei-Shan Elementary Returns to Williamsport Little League World Series” focused on the success of this primary school team from Taoyuan, writing a new page in Taiwan’s baseball history.

In 1990, we ran a Cover Story under the heading “Play Ball! A New Era for Taiwan Sports” to mark the first year of professional baseball in Taiwan, when players’ awesome on-field performances ignited a nationwide passion for the game. For opening day, Wang Chen-chih (Saduharu Oh), a Taiwan-born player who enjoyed enormous success in Japan’s pro league, made a special trip back to Taiwan to be present at this historic moment.

Although baseball was overshadowed by the illegal gambling scandals of 1996, thanks to reform of the league and the dedication of players, the fans eventually came back with enthusiasm. “Back to the Diamond,” published in 2004, told a story of rocking stadiums and the revival of pro ball.

In 2024, Taiwan shut out Japan to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament. In the same year, great Taiwanese players from over the years gathered at the All-Star Game. Such events gave fans cause to feel both joy and tears.

Baseball in Taiwan is not just a sport, it is a profound element in the collective memory of the people.

Wang Chun-liang of the President team hit the first home run of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in the opening game of the league’s first year, causing the stadium to explode. 

(photo by Cheng Yuan-ching, Huang Li-li)

Wang Chen-chih (Saduharu Oh), who became famous playing pro ball in Japan, was invited to hit the first ball on the opening day of the first year of professional baseball in Taiwan (1990). (photo by Cheng Yuan-ching, Huang Li-li)

Cheers and powerful emotions are part of the collective memories of baseball in Taiwan.
(photo by Cheng Yuan-ching, Huang Li-li)

Mascots of the four teams to play in Year 1 of the CPBL: The Wei Chuan Dragons, the Brother Elephants, the Mercuries Tigers, and the President Lions. (photo by Cheng Yuan-ching, Huang Li-li)

Changing rhythms

Besides recording athletic glory, Taiwan Panorama has also perceptively followed changes in sports trends in the country.

In 1999 Tiger Woods, the golden boy of American golf, came to Taiwan, sparking a “Tiger fever.” In 2006 we interviewed nine-ball pool star Yang Ching-shun. In 2011 there was a report on Yani Tseng, at the time the world’s number-one woman golfer. And in 2012 we covered the global “Linsanity” phenomenon inspired by NBA player Jeremy Lin.

In recent years, marathon running has become a popular activity, while cycling has offered the perfect balance between travel and health. Many people have been getting “up and at ‘em,” bringing greater dynamism to Taiwan. We published Cover Stories in October of 2023 on cycling culture and in November on the running vogue, showcasing the appeal of these trendy sports in Taiwan.

In 2009, Kaohsiung City hosted the World Games and Taipei hosted the Deaflympics, while in 2017 Taipei was the site of the Summer Universiade, and in 2025 the World Masters Games were held in the municipalities of Taipei and New Taipei. Every major event organized in Taiwan gives the world a chance to see the passion and hospitality of this island.

For half a century, the story of sports in Taiwan has been not only that of titles and records, but also of stirring emotions. For 50 years Taiwan Panorama has been recording this journey of dreams and willpower, enabling the world to see the vitality, enthusiasm, and dauntless spirit of our ­homeland. 

Deaf badminton champion Shen Yan-ru has turned “silence” into strength, winning through superior concentration.

Cycling has taken Taiwan by storm, becoming a “national sport” for young and old alike.

The 2025 World Masters Games brought more than 6,500 foreign athletes to Taiwan, demonstrating the island’s vitality and charm through sports.