BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- In a country crazy for table tennis,
volleyball and basketball, few Chinese play or watch baseball.
However, QSL Sports Limited, led in part by Huang Jianhua, has formed a
long-term partnership with the Chinese Baseball Association to develop the China
Youth Baseball League (CYBL).
Huang, the Chinese-born, U.S-educated businessman who is leading a Chinese
company's purchase of a stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, is seeking a Yao Ming
in the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the future through his plan.
Yao has raised the profile of the Chinese basketball as a Houston Rockets
star.
"I look forward to seeing more Chinese players take their places in Major
League Baseball just like Yao Ming does in the NBA," Huang said during a
telephone interview by Xinhua here on Monday.
"I am confident that our effort will help nurture a love of baseball in
China in the near future."
Huang has previously brokered sponsorship deals with the New York Yankees
and other sports franchises in the United States. Marc Ganis, president of
Chicago-based consulting company Sports Corp Ltd, will help set up and run the
league and look after practice facilities.
According to Huang, QSL will invest millions of dollars over the next 10
years to spearhead the drive to raise China's profile and standards in the
sport.
CYBL will develop youth programs and host tournaments as well as broker
sponsorships and broadcast rights, market baseball merchandise and manage
players.
After QSL's investment, three other Chinese enterprises also announced
sponsorship with the CYBL.
"It is my belief that China, as a sports-loving nation, has immense
potential in offering great talent to the world of baseball at the highest
levels," said Huang. "This partnership with the Chinese Baseball Association has
turned a new page in the development of baseball in China."
The first big events of CYBL will take place in Wuxi and Nanjing in Jiangsu
province in late July and early August for the young players aged at under-12,
12-15 and 16-18.
