Pingtan, a coastal pilot zone in southeastern China known for its efforts to build a "dynamic island for brand sports events," played host to the 2025 BFA XXXI Asian Baseball Championship, which concluded on the evening of September 28. The tournament, part of Pingtan's broader initiative to develop a sports system centered on auto racing, kiteboarding, and baseball, drew teams from multiple Asian countries and regions to its packed baseball stadium, where fans gathered to watch top-tier action.

All-star roster award presentation ceremony

The gold medal showdown, kicking off at 6:30 p.m. local time on September 28, saw Japan dominate Chinese Taipei with an 11-0 victory. Japan seized control early, scoring 4 runs in the first half of the opening inning, and never let up—thanks to a tight defensive lineup and consistent performances from its pitchers, who shut down Chinese Taipei's comeback attempts. The win secured Japan the championship title, while Chinese Taipei took home the silver medal.

Japan's path to the final was not without challenges. During the super round of the tournament, the team suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to South Korea. However, Japan advanced to the gold medal match by virtue of a higher "head-to-head quality rate," a key tiebreaker in the competition format.

In the bronze medal game, China put up a tough fight against South Korea but fell short with a 3-4 defeat, finishing in fourth place. South Korea claimed the bronze medal with a late-game push that edged out the Chinese squad.

Lin Benkun, a baseball coach from Longyan, a city in neighboring Fujian Province, attended the tournament with a group of young players. He emphasized the value of the event for emerging talent, noting that watching high-level games helps young athletes deepen their understanding of the sport. "Chinese Taipei showed great resilience even when they were trailing by a large margin," Lin said. "That kind of determination is something our young players can learn from. This championship has given them a precious chance to observe and grow."

Shi Wen, head of the Event Operations Department at Pingtan Straits Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd., highlighted baseball's role in Pingtan's sports strategy. "We are building a core sports system around auto, kiteboarding, and baseball events," Shi explained. "Hosting international tournaments like this aligns with our goal of making Pingtan a dynamic hub for sports."