SHAOXING, China, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 China Softball League commenced in Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Tuesday, marking the official start of a new season for the country's top women's softball teams.

Featuring 10 teams from across the country, including Beijing, Liaoning, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the 2025 season runs from April 5 to April 29, with a total of 135 games scheduled and the All-Star game slated for April 25.

After winning back-to-back titles, the Jiangsu Mizuno Women's Softball Team in Nanjing Tech University returns to the field looking to defend its title.

Despite a 6-2 loss to Guangdong in Tuesday's match after the opening ceremony, Zhejiang's head coach Wen Guopeng remained upbeat. "Even though our players are quite young, we still hope they can grow up and have a chance to take part in the Olympics," Wen said.

Since the inaugural season in 2022, the China Softball League has been held in Shaoxing its home for the fourth consecutive year. After being left out of the 2024 Paris Olympics, softball is set to make its return at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.■