Oh is regarded as the greatest baseball player in Japan's history.

In a professional career that spanned 22 years with Nippon Professional Baseball outfit Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo, he hit a world record 868 home runs.

Following his playing career he went into management with the Giants, leading them to a Central League title in 1987 and later with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, who he guided to Pacific League titles in 1999, 2000 and 2003 as well as two Japan Series wins in 1999 and 2003.

He also had a spell in charge of the Japanese men's national side, overseeing their win in the inaugural World Baseball Classic tournament in 2006.

Oh will serve as a senior advisor to the Baseball Federation of Japan in the build-up to the Women's Baseball World Cup, offering support in the promotion of women's baseball and helping to generate greater awareness of the event.

Sadaharu Oh led Japan to success at the 2006 World Baseball Classic ©WBSC



The move follows the formation of new governing body Women's Baseball Japan earlier this month, which is dedicated to attracting more young women in sport and developing women's baseball nationally.

"We are thrilled to have the continued involvement of such a legendary, respected and inspirational international sports figure like Sadaharu Oh," said Riccardo Fraccari, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Co-President and International Baseball Federation (IBAF) President.

"And, we are proud of our Baseball Federation of Japan colleagues for their excellent work toward delivering a special world-class Baseball World Cup for our national teams and women athletes, which will help further build our international baseball brand."

The sixth edition of the Women's Baseball World Cup will see eight teams taking part in a total of 24 matches at Miyazaki's 30,000-capacity Sun Marine Stadium and Ivy Stadium, a spring training venue for NPB team Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

The United States and the Netherlands will be two of the teams in action at this year's Women's Baseball World Cup ©WBSC



Hosts Japan are the three-time defending champions and are likely to face their biggest opposition in the form of the United States, who won the first two editions of the event in 2004 and 2006.

Australia and Canada are joint third on the current world rankings and will provide the main challenge to Japan and the US while Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and the Netherlands complete the line-up.

The tournament is due to take place from September 1 to 7.

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