FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN — Host Japan got off to a winning start when the Tokyo Olympics got underway after a one-year delay, beating Australia 8-1 in softball Wednesday behind 39-year-old pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who won the 2008 gold medal game against the United States.
The game was played in a nearly empty stadium. Fans were barred from the Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic, which caused a one-year delay. Many in Japan have questioned whether the Olympics should take place at all with low levels of vaccination in the nation.
Minori Naito and Saki Yamazaki hit two-run homers off loser Kaia Parnaby, and Yu Yamamoto, who had three RBIs, added a two-run drive against Tarni Stepto in the fifth that ended the game under a rout rule.