Coach Li Jianghua instructs a softball player during a practice session. (China Daily/Guan Xin)
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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.
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.
