Fans celebrate bronze medal as if it were gold

BASEBALL MANIA Though Cuba took the top spot once again, the loudest cheers were reserved for the home side, which beat arch rival Japan for third place to become No. 1 in Asia

By Lin Chieh-yu and Monique Chu / STAFF REPORTERS

Last Sunday, the president went to the Cheng Ching Lake Stadium in Kaohsiung County to watch Taiwan play the US, which the visiting team won 6-0.

A close aide to the president told the Taipei Times that, after welcoming the return of first lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) from Europe yesterday, Chen rushed back home to watch Taiwan's last game on television.

"While the country is under the cloud of economic depression, the baseball victory has filled all the people with enthusiasm," Chen was quoted as saying after the game.

"It [the passion of the people] proves that baseball is still the most popular sport in Taiwan, therefore the government should do more to cultivate those with a talent for baseball," the president said.

additional reporting by Joyce Huang

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