Leigh Godfrey and Leah Parry have been selected in the 15-member
Aussie Spirit squad to contest the WBSC Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier in
Shanghai.
A single Olympic qualification spot for Tokyo 2020 is up
for grabs, with Australia set to go head to head with China, Chinese Taipei,
New Zealand, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines in a winner takes
all scenario.
It is the final chance for all eight nations to qualify
for the Tokyo Games.
The teams will be split into two separate groups of four
nations with the top two countries from both groups merging into a final super round
– with the result against the other nation from their group carried over and
included in the super round.
The Aussie Spirit have been grouped with Chinese Taipei,
Indonesia and Hong Kong, with Australia and Chinese Taipei favoured to
progress.
China and Korea are considered most likely to join them,
with China holding the advantage of home conditions with a home crowd.
Matches commence on Tuesday, September 24, with the super
round following on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th.
Softball makes its return to the Olympic sport program
roster in Tokyo 2020 for the first time in 12 years. It will be joined by Baseball,
after both sports were cut after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The Olympic homecoming represents a tantalising prospect
for Godfrey who has been a long-term member of the Aussie Spirit team during an
era when the sport hasn’t been available at Olympic level.
Parry has followed a slightly different path, having only
recently returned to the sport after a six-year sabbatical to start a family.
Indeed, she only intended to play for social,
recreational and fitness purposes, but now stands a giant step closer to a dream
Olympic ambition after impressing national selectors with her comeback.
To follow the Aussie Spirit in their quest for Olympic
selection:
The Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier will be live-streamed on the WBSC YouTube Channel as well as
through www.GameTime.sport
Softball Australia will share access to the live stream of Australia’s
games through the Softball Australia Facebook and Twitter social
media accounts.
WBSC Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifier schedule
Game times listed in Perth time
- Tuesday
24 September, 12:30pm – Australia V Chinese Taipei - Wednesday
25 September, 12:30pm – Australia V Indonesia - Thursday
26 September, 5:30pm – Australia V Hong Kong
Super Rounds
- Friday
27 September, 3:00pm – B1 V A2 - Friday
27 September, 5:30pm – A1 V B2 - Saturday
28 September, 3:00pm – A2 V B2 - Saturday
29 September, 5:30pm – A1 V B1
