Sri Lanka hosts first international baseball event

Described as the best West Asia Cup tournament organized to date, the West Asia Baseball Cup 2019 edition, which was held at the Japan Friendship Baseball Stadium in Diyagama, was well received by participants and spectators alike, re-defining Sri Lanka’s position as a sporting destination yet again. 

The premier sporting event for the baseball players from West Asia took place from 15-20 July, under the patronage of Baseball Federation of Japan President Masatake Yamanaka. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Kishu Gomes, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunarathne, and Sri Lanka Tourism Events Director Prasad Daluwatte were among the other distinguished guests.  

Host nation Sri Lanka, after reaching a nail-biting final, emerged as the winner of the coveted competition against Pakistan. Sri Lanka’s victory also paved way for the country to play in the Asian Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Japan later this year. 

Six competing countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, and Bangladesh took part in the tournament this year. Highlights of the tournament held in Sri Lanka includes the riveting India vs. Pakistan semifinals, Bangladesh’s first-ever appearance at an international baseball tournament, along with the participation of Nepal, Pakistan, and the Baseball Federation of Asia, which includes 23 countries in its membership, as well as the live telecast of the finals on Taiwanese television and websites.  

Baseball Federation of Japan President Yamanaka referred to the 2019 edition held in Sri Lanka as the “best West Asia Cup tournament organized to date” while Pakistan Baseball Association President Sayed Ali said that the “tournament has been amazing with a great following for local teams, which is a rarity.” He commended the atmosphere, adding that it was fantastic to be part of the crowd and to also watch the matches. 

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau records that over 180 foreign participants took part for the week-long event. Locals from the area flocked to the event to cheer on the host country. Although baseball was introduced in 1985, the sport never gained popularity until the Sri Lanka team began to bag accolades in 2011. In 2017, the national baseball team won the West Asia Cup in Pakistan. The sport continues to receive much recognition, as Sri Lanka Softball Baseball Association President Fazil Hussain is also the director for development for the West Asian Region. 

The West Asia Baseball Cup in 2019 is the first ever and largest international baseball competition in Asia, created in 1994 by The Asian Baseball Cup, and aims to be one of the most important baseball tournaments of the world. This is the first international baseball event to be held in Sri Lanka. 

“It is my pleasure to be a part of this international event, which will no doubt will boost Sri Lanka as a sports tourism destination and bring more recognition to baseball as a sport in Sri Lanka, and take it to a global level. It will also bring much revenue and encourage more tourists to explore the many opportunities Sri Lanka has to offer as a tourist destination,” said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Kishu Gomes, speaking of the event. 

Significant progress has been made since the tournament in 2009, when Sri Lanka consistently won the Asia Cup Bronze medal in 2009, 2012 East Asia Cup Silver medal, 2015 West Asia Cup Bronze medal and 2017 West Asia Gold medal. The West Asia Baseball Cup in 2019 was hosted by island country Sri Lanka for the first time and it was the first time The West Asia Baseball Cup was held in South Asia.