Photo By Sponichi
Samurai Japan and other Group B teams that will be participating in the “Ragzas Presents 3rd WBSC Premier 12” will have their first match on the 13th. An official press conference was held on the 12th, the day before, but South Korean media raised questions about the response of Taiwan, the host city.
The Korean media outlet OSEN reported that the official press conference was atrocious, with the harsh headline, “Disastrous press conference with no interpreter… Advance screening also canceled, hurting the dignity of the host country.”
According to the same media, the press conference held the day before in Taiwan was attended by the managers and captains of four teams: Taiwan, South Korea, Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Japan and Australia were absent as they were playing their first match at Vantelin Dome.
The press conference took more than 30 minutes from the beginning with greetings from WBSC officials and Taipei city officials, and the interpreter was only in Chinese. It is customary for all interpreters from participating countries to participate, but that was not the case on this day.
In addition, there was no table set up on the podium, so the managers and captains of the four countries attended the press conference standing, and questions were asked only by a female moderator from Taiwan and only a Chinese interpreter, so it was difficult to answer any questions. “I was unable to confirm what the answer was.” “The press conference was a festival only for Taiwan and WBSC.The interpreter was only in Chinese, so questions at the press conference were only for Taiwanese reporters and local officials.”
Additionally, according to KBO (Korean Professional Baseball League) officials, the starting pitcher for the first game on the 13th was scheduled to be announced at the press conference, but the Taiwanese side canceled the plan five minutes before the press conference. There were also no questions regarding starting pitchers.
In the end, it was not possible to hear about the starting pitchers for South Korea and Taiwan at the press conference, and in the Korean media interview after the press conference, manager Ryu Jung-il announced that Ko Yong-pyo would be the starting pitcher. The Taiwanese side said they left the press conference without announcing the starting pitcher, and they had no choice but to confirm that Lin Wi-min was the starting pitcher through an email sent from the WBSC.
“OSEN” said that the coaches and captains of the four countries, including Coach Ryu and captain Son Sung-moon, “were not the main actors” at the press conference, and a KBO official said, “Coach Ryu couldn’t hide his displeased expression after the press conference. It was reported that he overheard.
According to Sports Chosun, this year’s Premier 12 is being managed by the Taiwan Baseball Association (CTBA), not CPBL, which has jurisdiction over Taiwan’s professional baseball, and a source said, “CPBL, which has a lot of experience, is leading the management. If they had accepted it, it wouldn’t have been so confusing.”
At the official press conference held the day before between Samurai Japan and Australia at Vantelin Dome, desks and chairs were set up on the stage, and Manager Ibata, Australia’s coach Nilsson, and others sat down for the press conference. There was also an English interpreter, and both countries announced the starting pitchers for the first game (Inoue, Thorp) at the press conference.
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