Taipei: The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA) on Sunday elected Chou Ling-wen, vice president of CTBC Sports Entertainment Co., as its new president, making her the first woman to lead the organization.According to Focus Taiwan, Chou emerged as a surprise winner in the CTBA's 14th board election, defeating two previously declared contenders - Topco Scientific Co. founder Kuo Jyh-huei and CTBA Vice President Lin Hua-wei. Lin, a former national team player and coach, had been widely viewed as the frontrunner.The election was held during the CTBA's 14th general assembly and the first joint meeting of its newly elected board of directors and supervisors, with Chou succeeding outgoing president Jeffrey Koo Jr.In a statement released after her election, Chou said her experience at CTBC Sports Entertainment, where she helped oversee major domestic baseball events, had prepared her to serve as a bridge between the association, Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), and government agencie s. She emphasized that her role is "not as a position of power, but as unconditional service," and expressed her hope to make the CTBA "the warmest and strongest home" for Taiwan's baseball community.Chou also acknowledged the efforts of her predecessor, Koo, in strengthening cooperation between the CTBA and the CPBL. Under this cooperation, the professional league oversees national team selection and training for international tournaments while the association provides logistical support.Moving forward, Chou plans to prioritize the strengthening of grassroots baseball. Her initiatives include standardizing competitions at the youth, junior high, and high school levels, developing coaching materials, and expanding sports science and injury prevention programs.Chou, 58, has a background in politics influenced by her father, Chou Ping-te, a founding member of the Democratic Progressive Party. She served four terms as a Kaohsiung city councilor before transitioning to roles in several public-sector organiz ations and eventually joining CTBC Sports Entertainment as vice president in 2024.