Tokyo
Japan’s hugely popular baseball league could could start as soon as June after its coronavirus postponement, according to the sport’s commissioner, raising the hopes of fans.
Atsushi Saito, commissioner for Nippon Professional Baseball, met Monday with infection experts and separately held talks with representatives of Japan’s 12 professional teams, which he said would work towards a June start.
“The 12 teams agreed to make efforts so that the season can start in the latter half of June, on the condition that all necessary preparations can be made while carefully monitoring the spread of the infection,” Saito said in a statement.
The announcement on Monday evening came as domestic media reported the baseball season, originally scheduled to open on March 20, could start on June 19.
Baseball is Japan’s most popular sport, with even youth leagues getting national television coverage.
Saito said it was too soon to set a date, adding that he would monitor developments in Taiwan and South Korea, where professional teams have returned to action largely behind closed doors.
He confirmed that the league’s annual all-star games in July would be cancelled, and it remains unclear whether some of the regular season will have to be scrapped even if play resumes.
Japan has seen a smaller coronavirus outbreak than many parts of Europe and the United States, with the number of recorded infections approaching 16,000 and deaths at around 620.—APP
