A new era, but no more Games
BEIJING (Reuters) - Softball chiefs hailed Japan's shock gold medal win over the United States as the start of a new era for softball but it will be one that no longer includes the Olympics.
Japan's dramatic 3-1 upset of the triple Olympic champions on Thursday was a victory softball leaders had been hoping for to help prove their claims the sport was growing and American domination waning.
But the shock win did not come in time to save the sport from Olympic chopping block, as softball was officially dropped from the Summer Games program after the final medals were handed out.
"Congratulations to Japan, their win proves that softball has gone global over the past few years," said Don Porter, president of the International Softball (ISF) Federation.
"Few would have predicted Japan would be picking up the gold here but I remember them beating the U.S. in the preliminary round in Sydney in 2000 and I knew they shouldn't be under-estimated."
Players were left stunned as the reality that Beijing was softball's final Olympics began to slowly sink in following the medal ceremony.
Some wept while others said they had not yet had time to come to grips with an Olympic-less future.
It was double shock for the Americans who had ruled supreme over the Olympic diamond since the sport was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The U.S. entered the final unbeaten in 22 Olympic contests, a stretch of domination stretching back to the 2000 Sydney Games but players insisted that the quality of competition had stiffened.
After romping through the preliminary round in Beijing 8-0, including six shutouts, the U.S. claims rang hollow until Japan delivered the shock blow in softball's final Olympic contest.
"I feel maybe people will get off our back and realize that there is some parity in this game because I always felt that rest of the world was getting better," said U.S. coach Mike Candrea.
"People on the outside who don't really understand the game felt we were so dominant.
"We played great softball but if you're in the dugout and on this team you know any team can get hot any night."
(Editing by Steve Ginsburg)
