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Japan Forward
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
World Children's Baseball Foundation Appoints Women to Its Board for 1st Time
Sportscaster Rie Oh and retired table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa have joined the World Children's Baseball Foundation Board of Councilors. Kasumi Ishikawa (left), Sadaharu Oh and Rie Oh attend a news conference on June 16, 2025, in Tokyo. (©SANKEI) The World Children's Baseball Foundation announced the appointment of TV sportscaster and radio presenter Rie Oh and retired table tennis star Kasumi Ishikawa to its Board of Councilors on Monday, June 16. They are the first women to join the nonprofit organization's board. "We look forward to hearing broad and diverse opinions from both of them — beyond just baseball — based on their unique experiences," the WCBF wrote on its official social media accounts. "With their fresh insight and energy, we believe WCBF will continue to grow and inspire young players around the world. Thank you for your continued support!" The World Children's Baseball Foundation was established in 1992 as a non-profit organization with the backing of NPB's all-time home-run king Sadaharu Oh (Rie's father) and his MLB counterpart Hank Aaron. Oh, 85, remains actively involved with the WCBF, serving as its chairman. He enthusiastically promotes the group's work, including the upcoming 31st World Children's Baseball Fair in Daisen, Akita Prefecture (July 30-August 7). This year's event will feature youth baseball players (boys and girls) from 11 nations. The Yomiuri Giants legend said the WCBF needed to change with the times. "Until now, [the council members] have only been men, older men like us," Oh told the news conference. "But in today's age, we need to rejuvenate the council and include women's opinions. We appointed you two to change the atmosphere of the WCBF." He added, "I look forward to their active participation." Kasumi Ishikawa speaks at a press event on June 9 in Yokohama. (©SANKEI) Three-time Olympian Ishikawa said she's looking forward to her new role with the WCBF. "I would like to rejuvenate the foundation and incorporate women's opinions to make it more in tune with the times," Ishikawa said at a news conference on Monday, Sankei Sports reported. Ishikawa also expressed enthusiasm for this new opportunity in her life. "I am very happy and honored to be working with Mr Oh, who has been conveying the joy of baseball, the fun of sports, and the power of sports to children around the world for many years through this foundation," Ishikawa told the news conference, Sports Hochi reported. She then said, "I myself have learned many things through table tennis and sports." Rie Oh attends the June 16 news conference. (©SANKEI) At the same media gathering, Rie Oh, 55, spoke about her commitment to a healthy lifestyle. "The theme of my life is 'food and health.' I would like to keep an eye on children's dietary education as well," she said, according to Sankei Sports . She added, "I would like my father to continue this tournament for as long as possible, and I would like to support him in any way I can." Rie Oh is a board member of the Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
The Star
30-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Golden shuttlers win silver in China teams event
(From Left) Ong, Chua, Neoh, Chan, Tan, Chong, Dr Goh and Kong all smiles after taking the silver in the men's doubles at WCBF Team Championship in China. A GROUP of Malaysian senior shuttlers rose to the occasion amid fierce competition to take home silver at the 14th World Chinese Badminton Federation (WCBF) Team Championship. The event in XinChang, ZheJiang province, saw eight-member all-Malaysian Team NZPAL place second in the men's doubles team event in the 70-74 age category. NZPAL, headed by Stephen Tan, managed to upset the Chinese home team in the semi-finals, heading to the finals against Team NZ70+ with players from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. The championship had attracted 692 teams, with more than 4,500 players in various age categories ranging from 18 to 70+ years. NZPAL, comprising seasoned campaigner Chan Wan Seong as well as Chua Koh Keong, Ricky Kong, Chong Yew Chzon, Neoh Cheong Kooi, Ong Sin Oong and Dr Goh Kim Chuan, qualified through the group stages after playing three matches. In the elimination stage, the team had to play three 31-point men's doubles knockout matches to advance to the final. The semi-finals saw NZPAL facing a strong team from China but they managed a 2-1 win. Kong and Neoh lost the first match while Chan and Chua, the reigning 2024 WCBF men's doubles 70-74 Champions, won the second to tie the score. 'We played under tremendous mental and physical pressure, neck-and-neck with the opposing pair, with the lead changing hands and no more than three or four points separating us. 'At the halfway stage, the China pair was leading 16-12. 'We fought to tie at 25-25 and we managed to power ahead to win 31-27 after a tense and thrilling contest,' Chan said. In the deciding third match, underdogs Chong and Dr Goh defended superbly against their opponents' constant attack, winning 31-24. In the finals played 15 minutes after the semi-finals, Tan said the team unfortunately was a spent force after playing five matches on the same day. They faced Team NZ70+, favourites to win, and lost 0-3. Tan said the Malaysian team played with courage and gave their all in making it to the final to take silver. 'It is not easy to find Malaysian players in the 70-74 years category who are still playing competitively,' he said. 'Most of the players had not partnered with each other regularly, forming scratch pairs to participate in this tournament.' Participating in the 3P220 event, a three-shuttler team event with an aggregate age of 220 years, Tan topped the category alongside teammates Hartono and Fritz Manaiky from Indonesia. He won another gold as a member of the NZ75 men's doubles team event, consisting of shuttlers from other countries. Just a week prior to the WCBF Team Championships, 71-year-old Chan participated in the All-England Senior Badminton Championships held in Hatfield, the United Kingdom. In his quarter-final match, Chan lost to seeded Cheddi Liljestrom from Sweden who is also the reigning Men's Singles 65-69 years Bronze medallist in the 2023 BWF World Senior Championships.
