Taiwan lost the youth baseball title to Japan but still earned a spot at next year's World Cup, a mixed result for the defending champions.

• Taiwan, playing as Chinese Taipei, lost 3-0 to Japan in the U-12 Asian Championship final in Hangzhou, China.
• All three of Japan's runs came off Taiwan's fielding errors, and Taiwan wasted a bases-loaded chance in the first inning.
• The second-place finish still qualifies Taiwan for the 2027 U-12 World Cup, which it will host in Taipei.
• Three Taiwanese players took home individual awards, including a .714 batting average and 11 runs driven in.
• South Korea and China rounded out the top four, with the Philippines, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Thailand behind them.

Outlook: Taiwan now turns to home-field advantage at the 2027 World Cup in Taipei to reclaim the title.