07 June 2023
Indonesian Women’s Baseball Team creates history with some help from Australia
A few short days ago, the Indonesian Women’s Baseball Team achieved a feat that had seemed unimaginable just seven years prior. From May 21st to 30th, they proudly represented their nation in the 3rd Women’s Baseball Asian Cup held in Hong Kong, China, winning their Group B pre-qualifier to progress to the second round of the tournament.
Team Indonesia faced a challenging second round facing India as the winner of Group A, who only played two games in the pre-qualifier, while the other four teams they played against were fresh, having not competed in the pre-qualifier due to pre-qualification.
Everyone who watched Indonesia play were impressed with their skill, professionalism, approach, and their joy at being part of the tournament. This included the world’s best female pitcher, Ayami Sato (Japan), publicly reflecting on their performance on a social media post.
Indonesia finished 8th out of 12 teams, securing their first-ever ranking points and showing the world that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. This accomplishment was even more remarkable considering that women and girls were once restricted and discouraged from participating in baseball.
Thanks to initiatives like Diamonds in the Rough, a program aimed at empowering Indonesian girls through baseball, and the dedication of many local individuals, including the late Mr Djulondin Djang, (a passionate supporter of women in baseball), the landscape of women’s baseball in Indonesia has experienced a transformative shift, creating opportunities for these exceptional athletes to showcase their talents on a global stage.
For years, baseball in Indonesia was seen as predominantly a men’s sport, leaving limited avenues for women and girls to pursue their passion. However, in 2016, the Diamonds in the Rough program emerged, aiming to provide equal access and encourage female participation in baseball.
Led by Narelle Gosstray and a group of committed coaches and advocates, with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Baseball Australia, the Diamonds in the Rough program identified and nurtured talented Indonesian girls.
What began as a small group of aspiring players quickly gained momentum, attracting numerous young women eager to break free from societal norms and embrace the world of baseball.
A key component of the program was equality, respect and leadership, and these aspects were supported by the NO MORE Campaign, an Aboriginal initiative created by Charlie King, AM, aimed at ending family violence.
While NO MORE is primarily a Northern Territory initiative, the issues faced in the NT and Australia are no different from those faced by girls and women in Indonesia.
Each program delivery included workshops and information sharing to raise awareness, and public demonstrations of linking arms to show a united approach to ending violence against women.
Diamonds in the Rough became a catalyst for change, reshaping perceptions and empowering female participants to overcome barriers. It also fostered a strong bond between Indonesian players, coaches, and their Australian counterparts. This collaboration paved the way for cultural shifts and inspired future generations to pursue their dreams in the game.
Diamonds in the Rough played a crucial role in creating a foundation for the team that participated in the Asian Cup. The inaugural program took place in Jakarta in February 2016, and two players from that program were part of this inaugural team. The program’s initial funding enabled two more successful deliveries in Indonesia in 2017 and 2018.
This all led to the formation of a girls team that competed in a series of friendly games in Brisbane in 2017, and then the Australian Youth Championships in Canberra in 2019. Seven players from the 2019 team competed in this Asian Cup.
Building on these achievements, Paul Mead, co-founder of She Maps, a program empowering girls in STEM fields, secured funding once again through DFAT to run a combined drone and baseball program in Indonesia. The first program under this funding took place in 2018, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
Another She Maps – Diamonds in the Rough collaboration is planned for the end of June 2023, returning to Bali to expand on previous work and expanding to Surabaya at the request of the Indonesian Federation, the proposed location for the Indonesian Junior Girls National Championships later this year.
The dedication and perseverance of these extraordinary athletes, along with the support of programs like Diamonds in the Rough and She Maps, have transformed women’s baseball in Indonesia and serve as an inspiration to individuals breaking down barriers and pursuing their dreams.
Watch this space to see the Indonesian women’s program continue to flourish. The Indonesian team has two new short-term goals
1) To have women’s baseball included in the Indonesian National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional – PON) held every 4 years. The next edition of PON will be held in 2024 in Solo, Central Java.
2) To participate again in the Australian Youth Women’s Championships as an invitational team in April 2024.
