Maroc - TAIWANTODAY.TW - Top News - 01/Mar 00:00

Taiwan steps up support for national baseball team

Premier Cho Jung-tai wished members of the national baseball team success at the sixth edition of the World Baseball Classic, set to open March 5 in Tokyo, expressing hope they will showcase the Taiwanese people’s confidence, determination, resilience and solidarity.   Cho made the remarks Feb. 26 at an Executive Yuan meeting in Taipei City after hearing a briefing from Zoe Hsieh, director-general of the Ministry of Sports’ Department of Competitive Sports. He noted that the ministry has allocated more than NT$69 million (US$2.18 million) to support data collection and analysis, insurance, meals and training.   The funding also covers a medical team of more than 40 professionals organized by the Chinese Professional Baseball League, including athletic trainers, dietitians, physicians and sports psychologists. As games will be held in Japan and the U.S., meal subsidies have been increased to provide customized nutrition plans for players, the MOS said.   To further enhance overall competitiveness, the ministry launched a systematic data collection program in April 2025. Under the initiative, it subsidized a team of more than 20 analysts from the CPBL to gather data from professional leagues worldwide, track foreign players’ statistics and compile scouting and strategic analysis reports on potential opponents.   The national team began its second phase of training Feb. 19 and played warm-up games at Taipei Dome against overseas professional clubs from Japan and South Korea, including the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, the ministry said. (POC-E)   Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw