Paris (AFP)

The French basketball players, European vice-champions in 2019, inherited an Olympic qualifying tournament (TQO) within their reach, with Australia, Brazil and Puerto Rico, in the draw held Wednesday at the headquarters of the International Federation (Fiba).

The players of Valérie Garnier will have to take one of the first three places of this TQO played from February 6 to 9 at the Prado de Bourges, to join the men, qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo (July 24-August 9) thanks to their 3rd place at the Mondial-2019.

Fifth in the last Fiba world rankings, the Bleues will start on February 6th against Australia, vice-world champion 2018 and 2nd in the Fiba standings.

The Brazilians (15th) did not reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament in 2016 in Rio and did not participate in the World Cup-2018, while the Puerto Ricans (23rd) never played in the Olympics and took the 16th and last place of the Mondial-2018.

The French, 5th in the World-2018, aim for a third consecutive participation in the Olympics, after the money in 2012 in London and the fourth place in Rio four years later.

The Americans, world champions 2018, and the Japanese, hosts, are already qualified. The other ten tickets will be distributed via the four TQOs organized in Belgrade (Serbia), Bourges (France), Foshan (China) and Ostend (Belgium).

In the men's category, eight countries are already qualified: Japan as host, as well as Spain, Argentina, France, Australia, the United States, Nigeria and Iran, via their ranking at the Mondial-2019.

The last four tickets will be distributed to the winners of the tournaments played in Belgrade (Serbia), Kaunas (Lithuania), Split (Croatia) and Victoria (Canada) from June 23rd to 28th.

TQO compositions

DAMES (February 6-9)

In Belgrade (two tickets): Nigeria, USA, Serbia, Mozambique

In Bourges (three tickets): France, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Australia

In Foshan (three tickets): South Korea, China, Great Britain, Spain

In Ostend (two tickets): Canada, Japan, Sweden, Belgium

MEN (23-28 June)

In Belgrade (a ticket)

Gr. A: Ans. Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Serbia

Gr. B: Puerto Rico, Italy, Senegal

In Kaunas (a ticket)

Gr. A: Lithuania, South Korea, Venezuela

Gr. B: Poland, Slovenia, Angola

Split (a ticket)

Gr. A: Germany, Russia, Mexico

Gr. B: Tunisia, Croatia, Brazil

In Victoria (a ticket)

Gr. A: Greece, China, Canada

Gr. B: Uruguay, Rep. Czech Republic

© 2019 AFP