Baseball becomes a hit with students

（By 《China Daily》 2015-6-30）

Coach Li Jianghua instructs a softball player during a practice session. [GUAN XIN/CHINA DAILY]

MLB College Club program organizes games on 75 campuses

Li Jianghua led the baseball team of the University of International Business and Economics to the Group A championship of Beijing's college league earlier this month.

He was pleased not only with the results of the Group A competition, which includes foreigners, but also the growing enthusiasm for the sport among Chinese young people.

“There are more and more college students playing baseball in recent years,” said Li, who is a physical education teacher and baseball coach at UIBE.

“I can feel their love for baseball, which is a key factor in the sustainable development of the sport.”

UIBE's baseball development in China began in the 1980s. About 40 members of its team play in the college league, and more than 200 students are playing baseball or softball on campus.

“Now we are promoting slow-pitch softball, a simplified variation of baseball, among students, and we have our own league comprising teams from university departments,” said Li.

“Compared with when I started playing baseball in 2005, the number of people playing the sport has increased at an exponential rate in recent years,” Li said.

A player adjusts her teammate's leg guard during a softball game. Baseball and softball are becoming popular among students in UIBE. [GUAN XIN/CHINA DAILY]

The history of baseball in China can be traced to 1895, when the nation's first baseball team, a college one, was set up in Beijing.

Baseball was first listed as a sport of the National Games in 1959, which attracted 23 teams. But baseball was subsequently banned during the “cultural revolution” (1966-76).

Baseball began its resurgence in the country after China was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Since opening its China office in Beijing in 2007, MLB has launched a program for grassroots baseball education in China.

“MLB started the MLB College Club program in 2009,” said Leon Xie, managing director of MLB China.

“The program now offers training facilities and playing fields to 75 colleges and universities throughout China. It also helps organize matches for them.”

The college club program that Xie introduced has included tens of thousands of students across the country. It started to include the college league in Beijing and Shanghai in 2010. With its help, the college league in Beijing this year, which is its 20th season, has a record 43 teams taking part. Four years ago, the number was only 27. The Shanghai league also attracted 16 teams this year.

“Those student players brought baseball to more places in the country after their graduation,” Xie said. “They are the ones to sow the seeds of baseball. Then the blossoms bloomed everywhere, which showed the importance of promoting baseball among students.”

A player is about to pitch a ball during a match at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing in June. [GUAN XIN/CHINA DAILY]

Tan Xin is one example.

As a graduate of UIBE, the 24-year-old Tan, who learned to play baseball six years ago as a university freshman, has found a job in Guangzhou, where he plans to play baseball again.

“I cannot have lifelong teammates, but I can have lifelong friends through baseball,” said Tan, who used to be the captain of the team.

“Before picking up baseball, I was self-centered. But through these six years of playing the sport, I learned to communicate more with others and care about others' feeling. I will continue playing baseball. I'm sure I can find new friends to play with in Guangzhou.”

附：原文报道链接

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2015-06/30/content_21138449_3.htm