RAIPUR: Making Chhattisgarh proud, eight players and a coach from the state have made it to India senior and U-23 softball teams for Asia Cup Softball Championship to be organized in Japan from September 1 to 6, proving their supremacy in the game.
Chhattisgarh contributes the highest number of players followed by Maharashtra to the 17-member U-23 and 17-member senior team. It may be mentioned, Chhattisgarh softball teams have been consistent in national championships by winning seven consecutive gold followed by Maharashtra at number two.
The five players P Ashish Kumar, V Mohanrao, Veeru Bagh, Manas Kesarwani and Bhupendra Kumar Ghare have been selected to represent India in the senior category. It may be mentioned, P Ashish Kumar, V Mohanrao and Manas Kesarwani are participating in the Asian Championship for the second time.
If India's senior team secures first or second place in its category in Asian Championship, then the team will get the ticket to the Softball World Cup to be held in New Zealand from November 26 to December 4 this year. Amit Varu from Chhattisgarh is the coach of the Indian team.
In the Indian contingent of Under 23 Asian Championship, 4 players from Chhattisgarh Saurav Yadav, Aryan Tamrakar, Mohit Thakur and Sonu Gupta have been selected. Saurav and Mohit have experience of Softball World Cup held in Canada and Aryan have experience of playing in Softball Asia Cup held in Malaysia.
If this U-23 Indian team gets the first or second place in this championship, then the team gets the ticket for the Softball World Cup (Under 23) to be held in Argentina in October this year.
