JAPAN: BASEBALL - Japanese fans cheer as their baseball team hammers arch-rival South Korea 14-2 at the World Baseball Classic
Record ID:
465017
JAPAN: BASEBALL - Japanese fans cheer as their baseball team hammers arch-rival South Korea 14-2 at the World Baseball Classic
- Title: JAPAN: BASEBALL - Japanese fans cheer as their baseball team hammers arch-rival South Korea 14-2 at the World Baseball Classic
- Date: 8th March 2009
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 7, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING PAST SPORTS CAFE IN TOKYO SPORTS CAFE SIGN PEOPLE WATCHING JAPAN-KOREA BASEBALL GAME SHOWN ON BIG SCREEN INSIDE CAFE MAN HOLDING BEER SPORTS CAFE CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT SCREEN SPORTS CAFE CUSTOMERS CELEBRATING AS JAPAN SCORES RUNS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) ARATA IWAHORI, 33, JAPANESE BASEBALL FAN, SAYING: "I'm glad Japan won today. But we shouldn't be too optimistic because we have a long way to go." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) YOICHIRO OSAWA, 28, JAPANESE BASEBALL FAN, SAYING: "Actually, I had been worried that we might lose. But this landslide victory almost makes one think that Korea might never be able to defeat Japan for the next 30 years, just like Ichiro once said. So feel great." (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RYOKI MATSUYAMA, 27, JAPANESE BASEBALL FAN, SAYING: "I never expected that this game would end on the mercy rule. Seeing such a big win like this made me want to cheer for Team Japan even more in the final round." MORE OF FANS SHOUTING AND CELEBRATING
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAA51R4T3TLS2MBLU91X86XA04U
- Story Text: Japanese baseball fans celebrated their country's victory over its arch-rival South Korea on Saturday (March 7) as holders Japan overwhelmed the Olympic champions 14-2 to become the first team to reach the second round of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Dozens of baseball aficionados gathered at a Tokyo sports cafe where they watched the Japan-Korea game live on a big screen.
"I'm glad Japan won today. But we shouldn't be too optimistic because we have a long way to go," said Arata Iwahori, 33, a sports cafe customer.
To many, the game that ended on the mercy rule after seven innings came as a surprise.
"Actually, I had been worried that we might lose. But this landslide victory almost makes one think that Korea might never be able to defeat Japan for the next 30 years, just like Ichiro once said. So feel great," said Yoichiro Osawa, a 28-year-old fan.
Another sports cafe customer Ryoki Matsuyama 27, said: "I never expected that this game would end on the mercy rule. Seeing such a big win like this made me want to cheer for Team Japan even more in the final round."
The Koreans should still comfortably beat China on Sunday to advance along with Japan while securing a shot at instant revenge over their fierce rivals in Monday's final Pool A game.
Japan had beaten China 4-0 in the curtain raiser for the 16-team tournament on Thursday, while the Koreans crushed Taiwan 9-0 in their opening game. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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