Taipei: At least 500 people gathered in Taipei’s Xinyi District on Thursday to watch a live broadcast of Taiwan’s game against Australia at the World Baseball Classic (WBC), while many Taiwanese fans also went to Tokyo to cheer for the team, even though it lost its first Pool C game.

According to Focus Taiwan, fans in Taipei enthusiastically cheered, “Team Taiwan, go, go, go!” as they watched the game on a large screen at a plaza in Xinyi District. Many attendees were waving national flags and wearing jerseys with Taiwan printed on them. Despite the 0-3 loss, fans remained supportive of the team’s efforts. Rodman Feng expressed that Team Taiwan’s players had “clearly given it their all,” and noted the challenges of short tournaments.

Feng also mentioned the impact of captain Chen Chieh-hsien’s injury, which occurred in the top of the sixth inning when he was hit on the left hand by a pitch. Despite the setback, Feng, a longtime baseball enthusiast, is hopeful for victories over the Czech Republic and South Korea to keep Taiwan’s hopes alive.

Carrie Lee, who was present at the outdoor livestream party, was moved to tears by the end of the game. She emphasized the importance of unity and spirit for the upcoming game against Japan, expressing optimism that such determination could lead to success.

Jennifer Teng, another fan, shared her mixed emotions following the game. Although disappointed by catcher Lyle Lin’s near miss of a home run, she felt uplifted by the growing crowd and the shared enthusiasm among fans.

In Tokyo, Taiwanese fans also showed their support at the Tokyo Dome. Yu Hsueh-chih organized the distribution of 4,000 flags to fans, which were eagerly taken by supporters. Nobu, a Taiwan supporter living in Japan, brought a handmade sign used during Taiwan’s victorious run in the 2024 WBSC Premier12, hoping it would bring similar fortune.