Puerto Rico, Belgium join China in qualifying for Tokyo 2020 women's basketball tournament
CGTN
Puerto Rico players celebrate their historic qualification to theTokyo Olympics, February 9, 2020. / Courtesy of the International Basketball Federation

Puerto Rico players celebrate their historic qualification to theTokyo Olympics, February 9, 2020. / Courtesy of the International Basketball Federation

Belgium and Puerto Rico have qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time as their women's sides completed the 12-strong lineup for the Tokyo 2020 women's basketball tournament on Sunday night.

Hosts Japan and World Cup champions USA are automatically qualified, while Canada, France, Nigeria and China, who overwhelmed South Korea 100-60 for their third straight victory earlier in the day, secured their Olympic berths on Saturday.

Belgium made sure of their slot after edging Sweden 61-53 at their home qualification event in Ostend, with Emma Meesseman racking up 24 points, while Puerto Rico squeezed through despite a 89-51 loss to France, who also qualified for the Summer Games.

It's a tremendous achievement for Puerto Rico whose Basketball Federation declared the day "Historic" on their Facebook account.

"It's a dream come true," Luis Miranda, general director of Puerto Rico's Women's Basketball League was quoted as saying by Spanish news agency EFE.

Spain edged out Great Britain to seal qualification to the Olympics in the Group B game in Belgrade, February 9, 2020. / Courtesy of the International Basketball Federation

Spain edged out Great Britain to seal qualification to the Olympics in the Group B game in Belgrade, February 9, 2020. / Courtesy of the International Basketball Federation

"Through the last five years in the Women's Basketball League in Puerto Rico, we've worked so hard to make sure that our women's team have the highest degree of skill," she added.

In Bourges, Australia booked their place in Tokyo after holding off Brazil 86-72, with the winless South Americans missing out, while Serbia also earned their place by routing Mozambique 76-48.

The dream of reaching Tokyo for Great Britain came to the bitter end as they were utterly outclassed 79-69 by European champions Spain in Belgrade. The result means both Spain and South Korea claimed the final Tokyo spots on offer.

The full list of teams qualified for the Olympic women's tournament:

Australia
Belgium
Canada
China
France
Japan
South Korea
Nigeria
Puerto Rico
Serbia
Spain
USA