Paris (AFP)
France, Canada and Iran have snatched the last tickets for the Tokyo 2020 men's volleyball Olympic tournament (July 24-August 9), while Serbia, reigning European champion and Slovenia, vice- European champion 2019, failed to qualify.
The last Olympic qualification tournaments ended on the night of Sunday to Monday on the American continent.
Canada made an important step by winning the tie break against Cuba (22-25, 22-25, 25-12, 25-21, 15-9) on Saturday evening and confirmed by easily defeating Puerto Rico 3-0 Sunday night.
The European ticket was secured on Friday evening by France, winner of Germany 3-0 in Berlin. The first two of the last European Championship, Serbia and Slovenia, beaten by France, will therefore not see Japan next summer.
Iran won 3-0 against China in the Asian TQO final, while the African quota was won by Tunisia and the South American quota returned to Venezuela.
Poland, world champion (2014 and 2018), and Brazil, reigning Olympic champion, had already validated their ticket for Japan after a first round of TQO in August 2019.
For the women's Olympic tournament, the last tickets in play went to Turkey, Kenya, the Dominican Republic, South Korea and Argentina.
The 24 qualified teams
GENTLEMEN
Japan (host), Brazil, Russia, Poland, Italy, United States, Argentina, France, Canada, Iran, Tunisia, Venezuela
LADIES
Japan (host), Serbia, China, United States, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Turkey, South Korea, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Kenya
© 2020 AFP