Baseball seeks foothold in land of bat-ball

New Delhi, Oct 26 (UNI) America's national game baseball is banking on its similiarity with cricket to gain a foothold in India and the US Embassy has pitched in with broadcast major ESPN to hardsell the game in this bat and ball-crazy country.

At the first live television broadcast of the World Series, the championship series of Amrican baseball, here today US Embassy Charge D'Affairs Goeffrey Pyatt urged Indians to take up the game.

''As India and America grow closer, appreciation for each other's cultures will be the true measure of out mutual understanding. I urge the Indians to watch baseball, learn baseball, and play baseball,'' he said.

Seeking to promote the game in India, Mr Pyatt said the US Embassy would be joining with Major League Baseball International to sponsor ''First Pitch'' programme, which would bring professional coaches to five Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Imphal to train the players.

He announced that the embassy had agreed to meet the Indian Parliament for two matches -- one game of cricket and the other of baseball.

''My hope is that through baseball and cricket, we can learn a little more about each other, enjoy some friendly competition and just have fun,'' he added.

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