• Submitted by: admin
• Asia
• International
• Sports
• 11 / 07 / 2007

Cuba, won on the first day of the 37th baseball World Cup in Taiwan Wednesday.
The Cuban team, holders of 25 World Cup titles, beat Australia 3-2.

Panama trounced Spain 5-0 and Japan defeated South Africa 11-1. The Netherlands meanwhile humiliated Thailand 16-0 in a cruel lesson for the first-timers, appearing after China pulled out.

The tournament, featuring teams from 16 countries, opened with six matches at four stadiums in Taipei and Taichung.

Two evening games were scheduled: Canada vs South Korea, and Venezuela vs Germany.

Organizers had to postpone Tuesday evening's scheduled opening game between Taiwan and Italy until November 12 after heavy rain.

The wet weather is expected to affect games at the two stadiums near Taipei in the coming days.

The 16 teams are divided into Group A consisting of the hosts, the United States, Japan, Panama, Mexico, Italy, South Africa and Spain, and Group B featuring Cuba, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Germany and Thailand.

Cuba, who have won 25 World Cup titles, are regarded as favourites, but face a challenge from the US team comprising Major League and Minor League players.

Other leading teams include three-time World Cup winners Venezuela and the Netherlands, who lost to Cuba to win silver at the 16th Intercontinental Baseball Cup in November 2006.

The World Cup was launched in 1938 by the Lausanne-based International Baseball Federation.

Source: Bangkok Post