China to meet ROK in Women's FIBA Olympic pre-qualifying

FIBA this week confirmed the hosts and the group division for the Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments in November. Twenty-two trams will compete in five countries to decide which 10 teams can attend the Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in February 2020.

The eight teams from Asia-Oceania were divided into two groups. China, South Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines of Group A will be playing in New Zealand while Japan, Australia, Chinese Taipei and India of Group B contend with each other in Malaysia.

Wu Tongtong (L) of China dribbles the ball in transition offense in the game against the Philippines at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Banglore, India, September 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

The top two teams of each group will qualify for the 2020 Tournaments. That shouldn't be any problem for China, considering that the team smashed all three opponents in Group A at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in India in September – 67-44 New Zealand, 104-57 the Philippines and 80-52 South Korea.

In Group B, the contest is between Japan, which just won their fourth straight Asia Cup championships, and Australia, which have the world's top center Liz Cambage.

As for other regions, the eight teams of the Americas were also divided into two groups. The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Canada and Puerto Rico of Group A will be playing against each other in Canada while Argentina, USA, Brazil and Colombia of Group B launch the competition in Argentina. Like the Asia-Oceania, the top 2 teams of each group will make the 2020 Qualifying Tournaments.

Nnemkadi Ogwumike #13 of USA tussles with defense in the game against Nigeria at the FIBA Women's Basketball World in Spain, September 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

The six teams of Africa will all be playing in Mozambique in two groups: Nigeria, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group A; Senegal, Mali and Angola in Group B. The top team of each group will participate in the Tournaments next year.

The 10 qualified teams from the Pre-Qualifying events will be joined by the top 6 teams of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket – Spain, France, Serbia, Great Britain, Sweden and Belgium. Then the 16 teams will again be divided into four groups to determine the final 12 teams for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

One thing must be pointed out: The hosts Japan and 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champion USA will also be playing all the pre-qualifying and qualifying games. The two teams have already qualified for the Olympics, regardless of the game's results.