Korean women's Olympic volleyball hopes dim after loss to U.S.

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Korean women's Olympic volleyball hopes dim after loss to U.S.

Published: 21 Sep. 2023, 14:26

JIM BULLEY
[email protected]

Kang So-hwi, left, attacks during a women's volleyball qualifier of the Paris Olympics bewteen Korea and United States in Lodz, Poland on Wednesday. [EPA/YONHAP]

The Korean women’s volleyball team has only a slim chance of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics after their 3-1 loss to the United States at the FIVB Road to Paris Qualifier in Lodz, Poland on Wednesday.

Korea won their first set against the U.S. team 25-20, dominating in kills 17-13, but they came up short in the next three, losing 25-17, 25-19 and 25-17.

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It was their last chance to qualify for the Olympics this year. The top two teams in Lodz automatically earn a spot.

Korea’s shot at the Games now rests on the team’s standing in the FIVB World Ranking, which scores countries by wins.

The top-ranked teams by June 2024 will earn a spot in Paris. There are 12 spots each for the men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments.

Six teams will have already qualified through their tournament wins, and France, the host country, earned its place automatically. Korea is now vying for one of five remaining spots.

The Korean women’s team loss on Wednesday followed a disappointing finish at the 2023 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in Suwon, Gyeonggi in July.

They will next compete at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where they will have a chance to notch more wins and boost their world ranking.

BY MARY YANG [[email protected]]