Mother Nature swung an unexpected curveball at the Women's Softball Asia Cup finals in Xi'an, but Japan still emerged victorious! ⚡ The championship and bronze medal games were canceled due to heavy rain, with organizers awarding titles based on preliminary round standings.
🇯🇵 Japan dominated the tournament with a perfect 9-0 record, while hosts China secured silver (8-1) after defeating Chinese Taipei (7-2) in a Saturday showdown. The Philippines rounded out the top four at 6-3 – their best finish in recent history! 🎉
The podium teams all scored tickets to the 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the Czech Republic, Peru, and the USA. Meanwhile, South Korea, China's Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, and Thailand joined the top four in qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. 🏆
While the rain prevented final fireworks, the tournament showcased Asia's softball talent under dramatic skies in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Fans are already buzzing about the 2026 matchups! 💬
Reference(s):
Japan retain Women's Softball Asia Cup title after final-day rainout
cgtn.com