Blu Girls Gear Up for World Cup, Aims to Overcome Powerful Adversaries
In their quest for softball supremacy, the Philippine Softball Team Blu Girls have set their eyes firmly on the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup. With the unwavering support of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (ASAPHIL) and the Filipino community, the Blu Girls are headed to Italy to face formidable opponents at the 2024 Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage happening from July 11 to 26.
No less than 18 teams are seeing action in the World Cup, including defending champion United States. It will be an uphill battle for the Blu Girls as they are grouped together with three-time champion Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Venezuela and Host Italy. Japan, Canada and Italy are currently ranked 2nd, 5th and 8th, respectively at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Rankings and are three of the six teams that made it to the Tokyo Olympics. The only country outranked by the Philippines’ Blu Girls, which is currently ranked 26th, is New Zealand which is 29th.
To be able to advance to the Top 8, the Blu Girls have to beat four teams and finish second in their group.
ASAPHIL President Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed his full support for the Blu Girls as they embark on their World Cup journey. “We stand behind the Blu Girls as they prepare to face the best softball teams in the upcoming World Cup. Their commitment and hard work have been exceptional, and together with their grit, we believe they have what it takes to achieve greatness. We have provided them with the necessary resources and support to ensure they are fully equipped for the huge challenge ahead.”
The team, composed of both experienced and emerging homegrown players, has been sharpening their skills, perfecting their strategies and improving their overall performance in preparation for battle. This is the 7th time that the Blu Girls is competing in the World Cup since 1970 when they recorded their best finish ever- landing third in Osaka, Japan.
The Blu Girls’ first match is slated on July 22 where they go head-to-head against Canada.