By Yi Whan-woo
Korea times intern
Korea will host the World Junior Baseball Championship in 2012 in Seoul, for the first time, the International Baseball Federation said Wednesday.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Baseball Association will co-host the biannual tournament in late August through early September, in which some 600 players, aged 18 or under, from about 20 countries will compete.
“We have put forward our utmost efforts to host this tournament for the further growth of baseball in Korea,” a Seoul City official said.
“The city will continue to make solid preparations for a successful event.”
Korea is one of the favorites for the championship - it has won the tournament five times so far, including the inaugural event in 1981 held in the United States, the second highest number of wins in its history following 11-time champion, Cuba.
It also topped the podium in the 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2008 editions.
The tournament has been a cornerstone for youngsters to be nurtured to become international athletes.
Stars from past years include the Major League’s Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians and 2010 All-Star top vote winner Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins.