On June 1 (last Saturday), the 40th annual adult softball championship of the Golden Mountain Bay Area Chinese Sports Meet was held at Santana Park in San Jose.
The 40th annual softball championship of the Golden Mountain Bay Area Chinese Sports Meet in 2024 started on June 1 at Santana Park in San Jose (every Saturday and Sunday), with games scheduled for four weekends, totaling four days of competition. The tournament followed a single round-robin format leading to the finals, with a total of 15 round-robin games and 6 final games, making up a total of 21 matches.
The softball teams that participated included Ballers, National Taiwan University Alumni Team, Taiwan Guest Tiger Team, Stanford University Cardinals, DBA, and 3U3D.
Guests who attended the opening ceremony that day included Vice Director Zhu Yongchang from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, Qiao Jiao Center’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Secretary Xu Caifeng, as well as the Executive Committee members of the Chinese Sports Meet, Chairman Chen Chaoquan, Convener Chen Shengming, Deputy Convener Qiu Bowen, Secretary General Chen Siru, Financial Director Wang Yiqin, and the volunteer Liang Zhongdi.
The weather was clear on that day as the National Taiwan University Alumni Team and Taiwan Guest Tigers kicked off the first-round match.
Zhu Yongchang expressed his honor in representing Director Lai at the opening ceremony of the Chinese sports softball competition. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chinese Sports Meet, and he hopes that all participants can bond through friendship, exchange skills during the games, and promote physical and mental health. He wished for a smooth competition and for all participants to enjoy the game and deepen their friendships.
Xu Caifeng noted the excellent venue conditions of the day and highlighted the intense match between the National Taiwan University Alumni Team and Taiwan Guest Tiger Team. She wished for a successful Chinese Sports Meet and encouraged everyone to actively participate in sports to maintain good health.
Chen Chaoquan expressed his delight in attending the opening ceremony of this year’s softball competition. This game marks the beginning of the Chinese Sports Meet, and since the preparation for this year’s event has begun, everyone has put in a lot of effort. He thanked the Vice Director and Deputy Director for attending the opening ceremony that day. He urged everyone to promote and participate in the opening ceremony of the Chinese Sports Meet on July 21.
Chen Shengming mentioned that softball has been held in the Bay Area for 34 years since 1991, mainly involving Chinese people, but has now expanded to include more Asian participants.
He explained that there are three seasons of softball games per year, each lasting four to five weeks, creating a unique atmosphere. Despite the presence of many Indian participants, the game still attracts a large number of players from Taiwan.
Chen Shengming stated that players working in the high-tech industry face significant pressure, but softball games provide an outlet for stress release and socializing. Between the three seasons of games, everyone also practices to prepare for the next competition. This interest-driven competition model enhances team cohesion.
In conclusion, he emphasized that softball competition is not just a sport but also a way for social interaction and emotional release. Over the past three decades of softball sports, many have built strong friendships through the games while enjoying the physical and mental health benefits that sports bring.
The 40th anniversary opening ceremony of the Chinese Sports Meet will take place on July 21 (Sunday) at Cupertino High School.