FEATURE: Baseball gradually taking root in Sri Lanka with Japanese aid

TOKYO - With the help of Japan, home to legendary players Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani, baseball has gradually gained a foothold in Sri Lanka, a South Asian country better known for its passion for cricket.

At last month's Under-18 Asian Baseball Championship in Taipei, Sri Lanka finished second to last out of eight participants. However, coach Hiroto Furuya, a Japanese national, believes the Sri Lankan team has steadily improved.