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The 2023 China Softball League opens in Shaoxing on Oct 11. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

The 2023 China Softball League commenced its exciting journey at the Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Center in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Oct 11.

Themed "History and Glory," the league features eight teams from diverse regions, including Shanghai, Liaoning, Guangdong, Henan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Zhejiang. The competition is divided into two phases, with the first phase running from Oct 11 to 25.

The Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Center, serving as the venue for the baseball and softball events during the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022, is currently the largest facility in China meeting international A-level competition standards for baseball and softball.

During the Asian Games, nine baseball teams and eight softball teams from across Asia engaged in fierce competition at this venue, with over 70,000 people attending matches throughout the event.

Since June of last year, the Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Center has hosted various prominent events, including the 2022 National Women's Softball Championship Cup, the 2023 Cross-Strait Student Baseball Tournament, and China's inaugural Softball League, and it is set to host the 2024 U23 Baseball World Cup next year.

Shaoxing is now transforming itself into the "City of Chinese Softball and Baseball." The National Softball Training Base has been successfully established in Shaoxing, and there are currently 52 pilot schools introducing softball and baseball to their curricula.

In the future, the Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Center will be open to local softball and baseball teams at an affordable price. Residents will have the opportunity to purchase tickets through both online and offline channels, and the center will also accommodate organized visits from schools and institutions.