Serbia's volleyball team qualify for Olympics

TOKYO (AFP) –

Serbian players react after getting a point against Iran in the men’s volleyball qualifying tournament for the London Olympics, in Tokyo, on June 9. Serbia qualified following their 30-28, 30-28, 25-22 win.

Serbia booked their ticket to the London Olympics, beating Iran to secure top spot in the men’s volleyball qualifying tournament in Tokyo.

With a 30-28, 30-28, 25-22 victory over their nearest rivals on Saturday, Serbia chalked up a sixth straight win against no defeats for an unbeatable 18 points in the eight-team round robin competition.

The winners of the tournament and the best-placed Asian team qualify for the London Games, starting next month.

“Of course, we are very happy about this victory and about going to the London Olympic Games. Here in the tournament, we have won every game and so far I think we are playing a perfect tournament,” said Serbia captain Bojan Janic.

“Today Iran played a very good match. It was not easy, but I think we deserve the first position. Hopefully, we will be even better when we go to the Olympic Games,” he added.

Serbia coach Igor Kolakovic said: “I’m happy, because we managed our great goal, which is the Olympic Games.”

“We played against a very good Iran today. It was the first tough game in this tournament for us, especially in the first two sets. But we had patience and did everything for the win and I’m very satisfied with the victory,” he said.

In the Olympics, Serbia will join the three medallists from last year’s World Cup — Russia, Poland, Brazil — and continental winners Italy, Tunisia, the United States and Argentina as well as hosts Britain.

Two more teams will join them after tournaments in Germany and Bulgaria, currently running.