After a “disappointing” campaign at the 2024 WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Hong Kong, Molka Jlajla is already looking at how to improve Tunisia‘s performance in a WBSC Baseball5 World Cup when the country plays the Youth Baseball5 Africa qualifiers, in South Africa in December, with an eye on helping young people qualify for the 2025 WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico.
Tunisia had one of the youngest teams in Hong Kong with an average age of 21.5 (Mexico had the youngest at 17.75). The 23-year-old Jlajla was one of two athletes – the other being Mohamed Aziz Chtioui – to play in the inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico City two years ago, where the Tunisia had reached the second round and finished sixth. However the world No. 3 missed out on the top six by a win and finished seventh in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong as in Mexico, Tunisia finished the first round with two victories and three defeats but was tied with Kenya and France in Mexico and qualified for the second round thanks to the TQB, then losing its three matches against in Cuba, Mexico and Japan. Only fourth in the first round in Hong Kong, this year Tunisia competed in the classification phase where they beat South Africa and Hong Kong after losing a three-set thriller against Lithuania, the European champion.
“Our adventure at the World Cup in Mexico was a mix of highs and lows. Although we qualified for the second round, there was a feeling of missed opportunity. The experience was invaluable though,” Jlajla told WBSC. “Our current team is stronger, with better cohesion and better performance compared to the past, so we were disappointed not to do better in Hong Kong than ‘in Mexico.
“Comparing our current level to that of Mexico in 2022, we see a clear progression. The intensive training has paid off and it is obvious that all the teams have progressed,” added Jlajla. “This progress is a positive sign for the next competitions.”
Teammate Ilef Cheikh, 18, said on Instagram: “I can’t describe how much this sport has changed my life and what this experience has given me, more than any other. Team Tunisia finished seventh (of the 2024 WBSC Baseball5 World Cup) and the goal is not achieved. Happy to be part of this adventure and looking forward to more positive things in the coming days.
Tunisia was one of the first countries to engage in Baseball5, transitioning from Street Baseball, Baseball and Softball in 2019 and becoming the top African nation in the WBSC/KONAMI World Rankings, at No. 2 in Baseball World Ranking5 WBSC/KONAMI in May this year. The country is currently fifth.
“The change to Baseball5 has allowed us to be more competitive, it is a sport in which we see potential for growth and success,” Jlajla said. “At home, we have set up a Baseball5 league, launched the Tunisian Championships and the Tunisian Cup. Even if these events are not held every week or every month, they provide a competitive framework for our teams to compete and continue to improve.
“With a focus on improvement, our team is expected to achieve new goals in the world of Baseball5.”
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After last year’s eighth place at the WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup and seventh place this year in Hong Kong, there are many encouraging signs pointing to an exciting future for Baseball5 in Tunisia.
Watch out for African champions at the 2025 WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Mexico and the 2026 WBSC Youth Baseball5 World Cup in Italy in the coming years.
