The Aussie Spirit team have won a medal in every Olympics in which softball has been contested (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008).

The team is currently in Japan to contest the XVI Women’s Softball World Championship and is the opening qualifying tournament for Tokyo with the winner receiving automatic qualification.

“The World Championships are a massive opportunity for the Aussie Spirit team to achieve automatic qualification to the Tokyo Olympics and join the nations best athletes representing Australia in two years time,” Softball Australia CEO David Pryles said.

Australia are in Group B alongside Canada, Italy, China, Great Britain, Venezuela, Botswana and reigning Olympic Champions Japan.

The XVI Women’s Softball World Championship will take place between August 2-12.