By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Australian national team got through the First Round of 2019 FIBA World Cup with a perfect 3-0 record and has already qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Per FIBA:
Australia had double cause for celebration on Thursday night at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, as they not only defeated Lithuania 87-82 to clinch a third straight victory in Group H but also had their ticket punched for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Greece’s triumph over New Zealand in Nanjing ensured that Australia would be the highest-placed Oceania side in the 32-team event currently taking place in China.
They became the second confirmed team for the Olympics, joining Japan who have a spot in next year’s Tokyo Games as a host nation. Meanwhile, the other 10 spots in the Olympic lineup are still to be filled.
The top African and Asian sides by the end of the World Cup will seal places in the Olympics, with the two top-ranked national teams from the Americas and Europe also qualifying directly for next year’s tournament.
The remaining four spots in the men’s basketball event at the Olympics will be filled by the four winners of next year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which will feature six teams each.
Teams can qualify for the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments via the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Additionally, two teams from each region – Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe – will be awarded places in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament according to the FIBA World Ranking presented by NIKE.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL