The China Baseball League is striking back - but this time, on a full count.

The professional circuit, under the administration of the China Baseball Association, was founded in 2002 but suspended operations after the 2011 season due to financial difficulties.

Now it is being revived, with a comprehensive development plan backed by a determination to re-energize the sport in China at all levels.

Four clubs - Beijing Tigers, Tianjian Lions, Guangdong Leopards and Jiangsu Pegasus - will take part this season.

Calling it the first year of a new era for Chinese baseball, the CBL is being relaunched with a preseason challenge tournament from May 23-29 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, featuring the WUS College Union team along with the Sichuan Dragons, Shanghai Eagles and Henan Elephants. The league's regular season opens on July 18, with a best-of-five championship final in mid-October.

The revived CBL and the challenge tournament are just two of several development projects jointly organized by the CBA and Worldwide United Sports, a Chinese events management company. Others include the national championship, national youth tournament, baseball summer camps, the Asian Games and the Asian club championships.

"We are looking for sustainable, professional and healthy development for China's baseball," said Li Gaochao, vice-chairman of the CBA. "We want to build the best platform for Chinese players with support from the government, community and sponsors."

Chinese baseball has seen palpable growth over the past decade. The 2006 World Baseball Classic was a major stepping stone for the national team ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and catcher Wang Wei belted the WBC's first home run in Team China's opening game against Japan.

In 2009, China eliminated Chinese Taipei from the WBC with its first and only victory at the tournament.

"The development of baseball in China is still at a stage of primary infancy," said Li.

"Compared with the world's leading professional leagues, the CBL is not at the same level. But that won't affect our intentions to learn from the advanced leagues and eventually build our league into a truly professional one, through bringing up our own stars, expanding TV coverage and mobilizing enthusiasm for the game from all walks of life."

The College Union team players are mainly from the North China University of Technology, but more of the nation's leading post-secondary institutions are embracing the sport, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai International Studies University and Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

Li said his association will increase cooperation with universities and colleges in developing baseball and softball programs.

Li Hui, president of WUS, said: "Building a university league is also one of the planned projects in our effort to popularize the game. We are looking for a breakthrough in the number of people taking part in baseball over the next three to five years."

yangxinwei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/23/2014 page24)