China's Eagles stoop to soar

National team's bold venture into American elite league reaping rewards 

It's been a steep learning curve, but the Beijing Shougang Eagles are sure their debut season in the elite ranks has been well worth it as they bid to take Chinese softball to the next level.

The team, comprised almost entirely of the Chinese national side, competed in the US-based National Pro Fastpitch league for the first time last season with a view to giving China's finest professional experience against the world's best.

The Eagles inevitably found the going tough－winning just three of its 47 games to finish last in the six-franchise division.

To a large degree, however, that was to be expected. Their ultimate aim was not reaching the NFP playoffs but rather making their mark at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"We experienced the strength of the world's leading softball teams," Eagles player Liu Yining enthused at a news conference in Beijing last Thursday.

"With the help of the American coaches and competing against such high-level teams, we have become more aggressive. It has given us the courage to challenge the strongest teams.

"Lots of players in the NPF have also been preparing for the Olympics," explained another Eagles player, Liu Mengmeng.

"Competing with them is helping us learn what we never experienced before. So, we want to compete more and learn more to help develop China's softball."

Since winning silver at the 1996 Atlanta Games, China has struggled on the international stage. Thanks to the new-born Eagles, however, things are looking up.

Jointly launched in May by the Chinese Softball Association (CSA) and Shougang, the Eagles are also benefitting from having a truly inspirational figure at the helm－Teresa Wilson, widely considered as one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history.

"It is really a special opportunity for those players to play in the NPF," said Wilson, a one-time national Coach of the Year and a multiple winner of that accolade at collegiate level.

"I hope everyone will be patient as we try to live this dream. Time and chance will grow to become reality."

Coping with the physical demands of the NPF has posed the main challenge to Wilson's Eagles.

"The biggest adjustments are not just the speed and power of the game. I think our players have also been impressed with the aggressiveness," said the nine-time NCAA finalist.

"I feel that over the course of the NPF season, our players did a very good job at being able to compete at that speed."

Li Bin, a Chinese coach of the Eagles, has been encouraged by the progress made.

"One of the most significant improvements is the cohesion of the team," said Li. "Aggressiveness was another important improvement."

Visionary model

The novel idea of turning a national side into a club team has garnered plenty of international attention and praise.

"I think it is visionary for China to create that model," said Wilson. "Everyone wants to put their absolute best athletes on the field and give them the absolute best training possible.

"By combining the club and the national team, I feel like that we are giving ourselves the opportunity to do that, especially within such a condensed and short amount of time."

Other countries are now hoping to follow China's lead.

"Our team's groundbreaking expenditure in the US shocked not only China but also the international sports world," said Yang Xu, deputy director of the National Administration of Handball, Field Hockey, Baseball and Softball.

"After us, other countries have stared to contact the NPF trying to get into the league, but we have been one step ahead of them."

Yang also expressed special thanks to Beijing Shougang Sports Culture Co Ltd, which played a crucial role in the whole venture.

"A very special thanks to Shougang," said Yang. "As a responsible company, Shougang provided the national team with tremendous help to get into the NPF. I hope that the partnership will continue and thrive."