XI'AN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan retained its women's softball Asia Cup crown after the final and bronze medal games were cancelled due to rain, with final rankings determined by preliminary standings.

World No. 1 Japan topped the round-robin stage with a flawless 9-0 record, followed by host China (8-1), who secured the second place with an 8-4 win over Chinese Taipei (7-2) on Saturday. The Philippines finished fourth at 6-3.

The top three teams, Japan, China, and Chinese Taipei, earned berths at the 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the Czech Republic, Peru, and the United States.

The tournament also doubled as a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games, with South Korea, China's Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand joining the top four in earning their spots. ■