Tehran, Iran, September 25, 2019: Asian champions Iran have been drawn with Australia, India and Pakistan in Pool B of the men’s volleyball qualification tournament for Tokyo 2020 in January.
The winner of the eight-team tournament in Jiangmen, China from January 7-12 will represent Asia at the 12-team men’s volleyball competition at the Olympic Games.
Pool A comprises China, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Qatar.
Barring Qatar, the rest finished in the top eight at the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Tehran last week. But as Japan qualify as hosts for the Olympics, ninth-placed Qatar will fill the last spot in the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament.
Iran defeated Australia in the final of the Asian Volleyball Championship and are favourites to gain Olympic qualification.
Apart from Japan, six other countries have already qualified for the men’s competition at the Olympics. They are Brazil, United States, Italy, Poland, Russia and Argentina who grabbed their berths through the Intercontinental qualifying tournaments.
The remaining five berths will go to the winners of the Continental tournaments – Asia, Europe, South America, North America and Africa.