When the Indian women’s baseball team takes the field at the 2025 Women Baseball Asia Cup (WBAC) in Hangzhou, China (October 26–November 2), they’ll be representing far more than a flag.
They’ll be playing for recognition, sustainability, and the future of a sport that has survived in India on grit rather than governance.
Their qualification for this year’s Asia Cup achieved through a Silver Medal finish at the BFA Women’s Baseball Asia Cup Qualifier in Bangkok earlier this year was a story of underdogs outperforming structural odds. It marked India’s fourth consecutive appearance at the continental championship, an extraordinary record for a nation ranked 59th in the world, with limited infrastructure and no financial backing for its athletes.
But beneath the achievement lies a stark reality India’s players have had to raise ₹1.25 lakh each to fund their trip to China. It is this contradiction of global participation amid financial precarity that defines Indian women’s baseball in 2025.
The Road to Hangzhou: Silver in Bangkok and Sustained Progress
India’s qualification journey in April 2025 offered a glimpse into how far the program has come despite its resource constraints. In Bangkok, they dominated their group stage, beating Sri Lanka 14–4, Iran 13–0, and Pakistan 2–1, before edging hosts Thailand 6–5 in the Super Round to confirm their spot in Hangzhou. Their only losses came narrowly 4–5 to Indonesia in both the Super Round and final a sign that India can now hold its own against the strongest developing programs in Asia.
That runner-up finish behind Indonesia earned India one of the four qualification spots for the main event. It also showcased their core identity: a disciplined, defense-first team built around tight pitching and smart situational play. Players like Reshma Shivaji Punekar, who recorded an ERA of 3.55 across the tournament, and Ramandeep Kaur, a reliable run-producer in clutch situations, stood out. Much of the squad’s strength stems from Punjab, which has become India’s grassroots hub for baseball talent.
A Brutal Group in Hangzhou
India finds itself in the tougher Group A alongside Chinese Taipei (World No. 2), China (World No. 19), Hong Kong (World No. 27), and Thailand (World No. 31). It’s a mix of continental heavyweights and direct rivals.
Their campaign will likely follow three objectives realistic yet vital for the team’s long-term growth:
- Secure a win over Thailand or Hong Kong to prove competitive maturity.
- Keep run differentials low against elite teams like Chinese Taipei and China.
- Accumulate WBSC ranking points through disciplined, efficient performances.
Against Chinese Taipei, three-time Asia Cup finalists and perennial world silver medallists, India’s goal will be to survive with composure using their pitching depth to limit damage rather than chase a win.
Facing China, the host nation, could be more open-ended. India lost 4–9 to China in 2023 a creditable scoreline given the 40-place ranking gap. Replicating or bettering that result would underline India’s defensive progress. But the Thailand clash will be the real litmus test. India’s 6–5 win over them in Bangkok was decisive in qualification, and Thailand will be eager to reverse that result at home in Hangzhou. Victory there could push India into the tournament’s Super Round a feat that would rank among the nation’s greatest baseball achievements to date.
The WBAC serves as the Asian qualifying pathway for the Women’s Baseball World Cup, and Hangzhou’s results will directly impact India’s global ranking and its 2026–27 competition prospects.
But for India, the immediate priority isn’t medals it’s maintaining competitive credibility. A Top-6 finish would ensure a strong WBSC points gain and reaffirm India’s standing as a consistent continental participant, not just an occasional qualifier. Every inning played against Asian giants like Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea contributes to a larger developmental mission: exposing India’s players to elite pitching velocity, refined tactical systems, and high-pressure scenarios. These experiences, rare in domestic circuits, accelerate the sport’s evolution at home.
The Financial Struggle Beneath the Uniform
Even as the Indian team readies itself for world-class opponents, its players continue to battle off the field. Each athlete, most from lower-middle-class families, has had to personally finance international participation — covering airfare, accommodation, and equipment. For some, this meant appealing to local donors; for others, their colleges or the Punjab Baseball Association stepped in to help. The Amateur Baseball Federation of India (ABFI), despite being recognized by both the Sports Ministry and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), has not been able to provide financial support.
This funding crisis isn’t new. It stems from systemic governance failures within the ABFI including an official Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruling that found the federation guilty of abusing its monopoly by blocking alternative baseball associations and tournaments.
That restrictive control has suffocated domestic baseball’s growth, cutting off potential private sponsors and preventing the creation of professional leagues that could have generated independent revenue streams. As a result, even national-level players must resort to fundraising just to represent India.
That India continues to compete internationally at all and successfully is a testament to the resilience of its athletes.
The 2025 squad’s qualification, achieved through discipline and cohesion rather than resources, underscores what’s possible when raw passion meets structured opportunity. If supported with funding and a transparent high-performance plan, these same athletes could elevate India’s global standing within a few years. The lack of financial stability, however, risks eroding this fragile progress. Young players from regions like Punjab and Maharashtra, inspired by recent success, may abandon the sport if international representation demands personal sacrifice rather than institutional support.
For Indian women’s baseball to fulfill its potential, reform is non-negotiable.
The ABFI must:
- Implement governance reforms ensuring financial transparency and compliance with the CCI’s directives.
- Guarantee central funding for all sanctioned international events.
- Develop a national women’s league that builds continuity between domestic competition and international performance.
Simultaneously, corporate sponsors and CSR-driven investors have an opportunity to step in. Supporting this team with its compelling mix of adversity, integrity, and consistency could yield enormous social and brand impact. State associations like Punjab’s have already demonstrated that targeted regional investment can produce international-calibre athletes. Scaling this model nationally could transform India from a survivor in Asian baseball to a genuine competitor.
When India’s women line up for their first pitch in Hangzhou, they won’t just be competing for runs they’ll be competing for reform. Every inning, every defensive stand, every narrow loss or improbable win will serve as evidence that India belongs on Asia’s baseball map and that its players deserve institutional respect and financial dignity equal to their talent.
The Women’s Baseball Asia Cup 2025 will thus be more than a tournament. For India, it’s a referendum on how far heart and hard work can take a team when the system refuses to follow. If Hangzhou becomes the stage where India records a historic upset or even pushes a regional powerhouse to the brink, it won’t just be a victory for Indian baseball it will be a victory for every athlete who refused to let limited means define limitless ambition.
Women Baseball Asia Cup
India Fixtures 🇮🇳
27 Oct – Taiwan 🇹🇼
28 Oct – Thailand 🇹🇭
29 Oct – Hong Kong 🇭🇰
30 Oct – China 🇨🇳
Indian Women are among the 5 Nations that have competed in every edition of Asia Cups
