The International Softball Federation on Sunday approved the induction of former Japan national team manager Taeko Utsugi into the Hall of Fame.
Taeko Utsugi
The approval came at a general assembly meeting of softball's world governing body, making Utsugi the first Japanese manager to join the Hall of Fame in the sport. Utsugi, 52, guided Japan to the silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and bronze at last year's Athens Olympics to highlight her coaching career of more than 20 years.
Yutaka Miyake, a 53-year-old former ace pitcher of the Japanese men's national team, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.