More than 20,000 fans fill Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to cheer for Team Taiwan during the opening day of World Baseball Classic March 8 in the central city. (CNA)
 

The World Baseball Classic got underway March 8 at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in central Taiwan after a two-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tournament makes its return to Taichung after 10 years away. This year, the city is hosting Pool A games, which will see teams hailing from Taiwan, Cuba, Italy, Panama and the Netherlands compete to advance past the first round of the WBC.

President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a recorded message at the opening ceremony to root for Team Taiwan and praise its fighting spirit, while Vice President Lai Ching-te joined more than 20,000 baseball fans at the stadium.

Lai and U.S. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera threw the ceremonial first pitch during the Taiwan-Panama game. Other guests of honor included Taiwan’s former MLB pitcher Wang Chien-ming, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and WBC Chair Jim Small.

The Netherlands beat Cuba 4-2 in the opening game, while Panama defeated Taiwan 12-5. The five teams of Pool A will compete in eight more games for the chance at one of two spots at the March 15-16 quarterfinals in Tokyo.

First launched in 2006 and now in its fifth edition, the WBC is jointly organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation and MLB. This year’s tournament features 20 teams, with the championship game set for March 21 in the U.S. (SFC-E)