Women’s volley-ball in Dominican Republic
At the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament
Three-time Olympic champions Cuba and world No. 9 Dominican Republic are the favourites as the NORCECA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament gets under way at Tijuana’s Multi Sports Gym on Sunday.
A ticket to the London Olympic Games will be earned by the winning side of the eight-team event, which runs from April 29 to May 5. The top-ranked team not qualified here will move on to the World Olympic Qualification Tournament which doubles as the Asian Continental Championship in Japan from May 19-27.
No. 19-ranked Puerto Rico and No. 22 Canada are also considered strong contenders for the pass to the Olympics.
Hosts Mexico (No. 27) and Costa Rica (No. 28) are squads going through a developing process with many young players in their ranks, while Trinidad and Tobago (No. 34) are without some of their main players and No. 69 Honduras are taking part for the first time in a big international competition.
The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Canada and Honduras are set to compete in Pool A, while world No. 10 Cuba, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, and hosts Mexico will play in Pool B. The top teams from each pool will move on to the semifinals, while the sides placed second and third will battle in cross matches in the “quarterfinals”.
Dominican Republic Live, from Cuba Headlines, 02.05.12, 12pm
