South Korean Rapper Miryo And Musical Actress Lisa Along With 38 Celebrities Comprise Hanstar Female Celebrities Baseball Team
Forty Korean celebrities in their baseball uniforms gathered on September 21 to start their practice at a baseball gymnasium in Goyang, a city located north of Seoul, South Korea. Korea Joongang Daily reported Oct. 3 that the celebrities are part of Hanstar Female Celebrities Baseball Team.
The team was inaugurated by Hanstar Media, a company that holds celebrity baseball and basketball competitions. Singer Cho Gap Gyeong will serve as a player-coach for the team. Former Lotte Giants manager Yang Seung Ho, singer Kim Chang Ryul and actor Seo Ji Seok are part of the coaching staff.
"I didn't want to be manager of the team at first because I thought celebrities only play baseball to become more famous," said Yang. "Their skills were like third graders at first."
He went on, "Nevertheless, I was surprised to see them train passionately even with swollen faces hit by a ball, and now they are actually capable of doing a double play."
Celebrities such as Lotte Gianst cheerleader Park Gi Ryang, South Korean rapper Miryo and musical actress Lisa will be playing for Hanstar Female Celebrities Baseball Team.
"I decided to play baseball because I wasn't satisfied with simply watching baseball from the stands," said Park. "Lotte Giants infielder Hwang Jae-gyun inspired me by asking, 'Do you really think you can play baseball?' I wanted to become a pitcher, but it was much harder than I thought."
She added, "Instead, since I'm good at catching balls, I want to become a first baseman."
On the other hand, 23-year-old actress Park Zia reveals that she wanted to become a baseball player.
"I dreamed about becoming a baseball player, but I had to give it up since women's baseball did not exist in the past," the actress stated. "I'm happy to play and learn baseball again. As my next dream is to participate in the Women's Baseball World Cup as a national player, I'm currently learning a wide range of pitches like the four seam, two seam fastball and slider."
The team has started training since July. The celebrities find time to train twice a week despite their hectic schedules. The Women's Baseball World Cup is slated in August 2016 in Gijang, Busan.
The country also hosted to World Cup events in 1982 [World Cup] and 2012 [18U World Cup], as reported by Baseball in Korea on August 20, 2014. The website also adds that women's baseball has become popular in South Korea.
