Softball-Relief for Japan, U.S. on wins as action begins at Games

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Softball - Women - Opening Round - Australia v Japan - Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium - Fukushima, Japan - July 21, 2021. Yukiko Ueno of Japan (C) pitches. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) -Host nation Japan breathed a sigh of relief by winning the first event of the pandemic-postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, crushing Australia 8-1 in a spectatorless softball game held against the backdrop of the lush hills of Fukushima.

"I feel relieved," said Japan's starting pitcher Yukiko Ueno, who surrendered just two hits over 4-1/3 innings, but saw her team easily prevail with a trio of two-run homers.