Huang expects to "plant" MLB's Yao Ming

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- In a country crazy for table tennis, volleyball and basketball, few Chinese play or watch baseball.

However, QSL Sports Limited, led in part by Huang Jianhua, has formed a long-term partnership with the Chinese Baseball Association to develop the China Youth Baseball League (CYBL).

Huang, the Chinese-born, U.S-educated businessman who is leading a Chinese company's purchase of a stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, is seeking a Yao Ming in the Major League Baseball (MLB) in the future through his plan.

Yao has raised the profile of the Chinese basketball as a Houston Rockets star.

"I look forward to seeing more Chinese players take their places in Major League Baseball just like Yao Ming does in the NBA," Huang said during a telephone interview by Xinhua here on Monday.

"I am confident that our effort will help nurture a love of baseball in China in the near future."

Huang has previously brokered sponsorship deals with the New York Yankees and other sports franchises in the United States. Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based consulting company Sports Corp Ltd, will help set up and run the league and look after practice facilities.

According to Huang, QSL will invest millions of dollars over the next 10 years to spearhead the drive to raise China's profile and standards in the sport.

CYBL will develop youth programs and host tournaments as well as broker sponsorships and broadcast rights, market baseball merchandise and manage players.

After QSL's investment, three other Chinese enterprises also announced sponsorship with the CYBL.

"It is my belief that China, as a sports-loving nation, has immense potential in offering great talent to the world of baseball at the highest levels," said Huang. "This partnership with the Chinese Baseball Association has turned a new page in the development of baseball in China."

The first big events of CYBL will take place in Wuxi and Nanjing in Jiangsu province in late July and early August for the young players aged at under-12, 12-15 and 16-18.