![Japan downs USA by 3-1 in softball final thus obtains the gold for this event. After the victory celebration ceremony, players of both team make a '2016' pattern with the balls, wishing this event, which is planned to miss the 2012 London Games, will make its return in 2016 Olympics. [Xinhua]](http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20080822/001372acd0b50a18668108.jpg "Japan downs USA by 3-1 in softball final thus obtains the gold for this event. After the victory celebration ceremony, players of both team make a '2016' pattern with the balls, wishing this event, which is planned to miss the 2012 London Games, will make its return in 2016 Olympics. [Xinhua]") |
| Japan downs USA by 3-1 in softball final thus obtains the gold for this event. After the victory celebration ceremony, players of both team make a "2016" pattern with the balls, wishing this event, which is planned to miss the 2012 London Games, will make its return in 2016 Olympics. [Xinhua] |
Japanese boyish pitcher Ueno Yukiko led the national team to win the Olympic softball gold, beating the three-time Olympic champions the United States 3-1 in the final here on Thursday.
The 26-year-old ace pitcher worked seven complete innings, striking out five batters and allowing five hits.
Japan, with an Olympic silver and a bronze, as well as a 6-1 win-loss record from this preliminaries, had a difficult time advancing into the final on Wednesday.
On the morning, the team had an early encounter with American ladies during semi-final, when Ueno hurled throughout the prolonged nine-inning match at a speed above 110 kilometers per hour.
Although Japanese finally lost with a score of 1-4, they seized the last chance in the afternoon.
The do-or-die competition with Australia was a tiring one. With 12 innings, it was the longest one at the Beijing Olympics.