Weigao Cup 2025: Inaugural SDU International Baseball Invitational commenced at the Blue Whale Baseball Field in the Lingang District of Weihai on the morning of July 4th. Zhu Dejian, Vice President of Shandong University, and Zhang Shandong, Vice Mayor of Weihai, attended the opening ceremony presided over by Zhang Shuai, Standing Committee Member and Minister of Publicity of Shandong University.
In his address, Zhu Dejian stated that this tournament serves as a bridge to popularize baseball and foster youth exchanges, embodying the University’s educational philosophy of “Learning at SDU, Growing Happily”. He said the tournament would fuel Shandong University’s international campus development and Weihai’s drive to become a baseball and softball hub. Zhu hoped that young students would seize this opportunity to build friendship through baseball, better themselves, enjoy the beauty of Weihai, feel the charm of sports, and join hands for a bright future.
Zhu Dejian, Zhang Shandong, Zhang Shuai, and other distinguished guests jointly threw out the ceremonial first pitch, symbolizing friendship and officially launching the tournament.
Prior to the opening ceremony, students put on some performances such as “Home Run Beat” and “When Forces Meet”, both of which blended elements of street dance with traditional Chinese martial arts.
The tournament brought together over 170 athletes from nine universities in China and South Korea. Officials from the Weihai Torch Hi-tech District, Weihai Lingang District, Shandong University’s Weihai Campus, and the University’s School of Physical Education were also present at the opening ceremony.
