History of Baseball Federation of Asia

BFA

The Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA) is the governing body of baseball within the Asia.

The birth of Baseball Federation of Asia goes back to 1954 when the 2nd Asian Games was held in Manila, the Philippines. Four countries/regions such as Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines organized a committee aiming at establishing Baseball Federation of Asia, and May 7th of the same year witnessed the commencement of BFA. Mr. Charles Chick Parsons of the Philippines was elected as the first president of Baseball Federation of Asia. The activity of the BFA had been suspended for eight years after 11th Asian Baseball championship in 1975. During the FEMBA (Now IBAF) World Baseball Championship in Tokyo in 1980, BFA executives had discussed about resuming the Federation's activity. China (Baseball Association) applied for joining BFA and was accepted during BFA meeting in 1982. At the same meeting, the executives selected Seoul as the host of the 12th championship in 1983. In 1985, the Chinese Baseball team took part in the 13th Asian Baseball Championship in Australia for the first time since it became the member of BFA. North Korea baseball team participated for the first time in the 17th championship in Australia in 1993. In 2005, Myanmar expressed its intention to join BFA, and finally, the nation was allowed to join BFA as 20th member during BFA Congress in Laussane, Switzerland. And, Cambodia was admitted to BFA in 2008. In the year of 2009, during the Congress held in Switzerland, Cambodia and Iraq were accepted as new members and Mr. Kang, Seung-Kyoo was elected as the President of BFA and Mr. Lee, Sang-Hyun was appointed as a Secretary General. In the year of 2013, during the Congress held in Japan, Mr. Tom Peng was elected as the President of BFA and Mr. Lin, Hua Wei was appointed as a Secretary General. The total number of BFA members at the present time is 24, and 1 non-member observer State (Vietnam).