Press release

Tokyo, Japan, May 26, 2012 – World champions Russia sealed their ticket to the 2012 London Olympic Games following a convincing straight-set victory over Japan (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) in front of a packed house at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday night.

Russia improved to a 6-0 win-loss record and 18 points in the FIVB Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament, while Japan fell to 4-2 and 11 points. Korea and Serbia also have 4-2 mark but with 12 points. Thailand, the other team with a chance to earn a ticket to the Summer Games, are at 3-3 with 9 points.

Since the tournament doubles as Asian Continental Olympic Qualifier, the top-three teams at the end of the competition plus the best Asian not among the medalists will get spots for the Olympics at the British capital.

“I'm very satisfied with the result,” Russia’s coach Sergey Ovchinnikov said. “We have had problems in the past against Japan with receiving and their fast attack, but we solved them tonight.”

Korea bested Thailand in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-20). The winners, who play Peru on Sunday, improved to 4-2 with the victory, while the losers fell to 3-3.

“Today against Thailand was tough,” Korea’s coach Kim Hyung-Sil said. “We tried to attack as fast as possible. I would like to see three Asian teams - Korea, Japan and Thailand make it to the Olympics.”

European champions Serbia downed Peru in four sets (25-16, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21) to improve their record to 4-2, while Peru slid to 1-5.

“We are not satisfied and I hope we will play better tomorrow and finish the tournament in the right way,” Serbia’s coach Zoran Terzic said. “I congratulate my team for the victory and Peru played well.”

Cuba defeated Chinese Taipei in straight sets (27-25, 25-17, 25-21). The win improved Cuba's win-loss mark to 2-4, while Chinese Taipei remained winless at 0-6.

“I would like to praise our players,” Cuba’s coach Juan Carlos Gala expressed. “After last night's loss, I told them not to give up and keep playing high quality until the end. Our blocking and serving were good.”

LIVE SCOREBOX
Day 6 | May 26, 2012

Best scorers

Highest Scorers day- by- day
18 – Milena Rasic of Serbia v Chinese Taipei (19-5-12)
21 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Chinese Taipei (20-5-12)
30 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Serbia (22-5-12)
34 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Japan (23-5-12)
22 – Yoana Palacios of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
25 – Ekaterina Gamova of Russia v Japan (26-5-12)

Top- Scoring Performances
34 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Japan (23-5-12)
30 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Serbia (22-5-12)
25 – Ekaterina Gamova of Russia v Japan (26-5-12)
23 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Thailand (26-5-12)
22 – Jovana Brakocevic of Serbia v Korea (22-5-12)
22 – Yoana Palacios of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
21 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Chinese Taipei (20-5-12)
21 – Yukiko Ebata of Japan v Thailand (22-5-12)
21 – Kimura Saori of Japan v Korea (23-5-12)

Top- Blocking Performances
6 - Yusidey Silie of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
5 – Milena Rasic of Serbia v Chinese Taipei (19-5-12)
5 – Maria Perepelkina of Russia v Thailand (19-5-12)
5 – Maria Borisenko of Russia v Korea (20-5-12)
5 – Pleumjit Thinkaow of Thailand v Chinese Taipei (23-5-12)
5 – Yang Hyo-Jin of Korea v Chinese Taipei (25-5-12)
5 –Ekaterina Gamova of Russia v Japan (26-5-12)
4 – Several Players

Top-Serving Performances
6– Yanelis Santos of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
5 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Cuba (25-5-12)
4 – Yanelis Santos of Cuba v Korea (19-5-12)
4 – Yang Hyo-Jin of Korea v Chinese Taipei (25-5-12)
3 – Several Players