The 1982 Fifth World Women's Softball Championship was held July 2 through 11 in Taipei. Twenty-three teams from around the world came to participate, the largest number in the history of the tournament and also the strongest competition ever.
After nine days and ninety-three games the New Zealand team came out on top followed by the Republic of China, Australia, and the United States, in that order.
This was the first time an international championship tournament was ever held in Free China and it drew everyone's attention. 450 local and foreign correspondents showed up to cover the games. Television, radio, and newspapers were filled everyday with detailed reports of how the day's games progressed and of the athletes' after game activities. The Broadcasting Corporation of China's "Voice of Free China" even invited the Panamanian ambassador and other Spanish speaking diplomats to broadcast the play-by-play.
Because July is the rainy season in Taiwan there were showers every afternoon resulting in the postponement of opening ceremonies from the second to the third of July. The schedule of games also had to be revised because of the rain. Despite the foul weather, the games still ran very smoothly. The players' chatter and their transmitting of information made the field as tense as a battleground.
The fourth championship was scheduled to be held in Japan, but because Japan did not invite the Republic of China to participate for lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the International Softball Federation changed the site to El Salvador. At that time fifteen teams participated, the Americans winning the top place and the ROC finishing fourth. Chairman of the Chinese Taipei Amateur Softball Association, Ho Ming-chang felt the world situation had changed a lot and the ROC had the capability to play host to such an international event. Therefore he decided to ask the International Softball Federation to hold the fifth World Championship in Free China.
The opening ceremonies were scheduled on July second. All the preparations were made but that afternoon a thunderstorm rendered the fields into puddles. There was no way to hold the ceremony and it had to be postponed until the third. The afternoon of the third was not much more promising, it was overcast and black, the seats set out for the ceremony were all wet from the mist, and people could be heard saying, "Look, the seat of my pants is all wet!" Still no one left, they wanted to wave the ROC flags in their hands and showed their guests the spirit and patriotism of the Chinese people. Around the stadium large and small flags fluttered in the air.
From the fourth through the eighth it rained heavily every afternoon and the afternoon games had to be postponed. The players had nothing to do but return to their hotel where they entertained themselves. Those who could sing, sang and some even got up and danced. Despite the language barriers they all got along very well. The big winners in the rain were Taipei's merchants for with nothing else to do the women went out souvenir hunting.
One of the highlights of the tournament was the July 10 game between the ROC and the U.S. The stands were full of fans who had come to cheer the Chinese team but no one dared to hope the Chinese could beat the awesome American contingent. The best anyone hoped for was a close game. At the top of the fourth with Yeh Hsiou-ying pitching for the Chinese team, the second batter up on the American side hit a single and then reached second on an error. The next batter hit a double sending her home and leaving the score 1 to 0 in favor of the U.S. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings the Chinese team was unable to come up with any runs and so in the bottom of the seventh the score still remained 1 to 0. The Chinese had one chance left. Su Yu-chun pinch hitting took a walk and advanced to second on Wu Yu-chen's single. They both advanced a base on Chen Mei-lang's grounder which brought Mi Su-chiung up to the plate. Mi hit a double sending the two runners home giving the Chinese a 2 to 1 victory over the former champions.
The tournament play-offs were scheduled for the 10th and 11th but because of rain on the 10th, the play-offs all had to be squeezed into one day, the 11th.
That morning the ROC faced the Americans at 8:30 and then the New Zealanders at 11:00. They won both games and that afternoon found themselves up against the Australians whom they also beat. The 4:30 championship game saw the New Zealanders facing the Chinese with the result of a 2 to 0 win for New Zealand.
In one day the Chinese team played four games with only half an hour to rest between the games. By the time they got to the final game they were exhausted, the pitchers had very little energy and the batters were almost incapable of swinging their bats. Moreover, New Zealand by virtue of being the Western champion earned a rest in the afternoon while the ROC battled Australia. But when they reached the field the ROC team reached deep down within themselves and came out fighting. In the end they lost by only two runs, not a bad showing. After the game Premier Sun called the team up to congratulate them and to convey President Chiang Ching-kuo's congratulations and best wishes.
On the 12th, the Chinese women's team which did win the Asia crown was visited by Premier Sun Yun-suan and Minister of Education Dr. Hwei-sen Chu. Premier Sun praised the women as "capable, beautiful, and talented." Minister Chu then presented each member of the team with a medal as a commendation of their hard work and team spirit.
[Picture Caption]
1) An Australian runner at first base. 2) Opening ceremonies. 3) An American batter intent on getting to base. 4) Ho Ming-chang making his opening remarks. 5) Dominican Republic players celebrate their victory over Indonesia. 6) Chinese pitcher Chang Chian-chin. 7) Spirited action in the Colombia-Singapore game. 8) Encouragement for the American team. 9) A dragon dance being performed at the opening of the tournament. 10) Chuang Chin-chue at bat. 11) The first ball.
1) Yang Yu-feng got more hits than any other player in the tournament. 2) Flags, drums and firecrackers all helped to encourage the Chinese women. 3) The Republic of China scores a run against El Salvador. 4) A player from the Netherlands.
1) Chinese players after their victory over the Americans. 2) A pitcher on the Colombian team. 3) In the opening game, the ROC faced the Bahamas. 4) The American catcher.
1) The Dutch third baseman. 2) Chinese players congratulating their New Zealand counterparts on their victory. 3) The ROC won the Asian crown. 4) Dancing at an evening party. 5) The New Zealand team receiving the championship trophy. 6) Premier Sun Yun-suan presenting an award to Ho Ming-chang. 7) Premier Sun receives a kiss for his support.
An American batter intent on getting to base.
Ho Ming-chang making his opening remarks.
Dominican Republic players celebrate their victory over Indonesia.
A dragon dance being performed at the opening of the tournament.
Chinese pitcher Chang Chian-chin.
Spirited action in the Colombia-Singapore game.
Encouragement for the American team.
Yang Yu-feng got more hits than any other player in the tournament.
Flags, drums and firecrackers all helped to encourage the Chinese women.
The Republic of China scores a run against El Salvador.
A player from the Netherlands.
Chinese players after their victory over the Americans.
A pitcher on the Colombian team.
In the opening game, the ROC faced the Bahamas.
Chinese players congratulating their New Zealand counterparts on their victory.
The ROC won the Asian crown.
Dancing at an evening party.
The New Zealand team receiving the championship trophy.
Premier Sun Yun-suan presenting an award to Ho Ming-chang.
Premier Sun receives a kiss for his support.
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