Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, January 12, 2020.  Turkey snatched a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after winning the women’s CEV European continental qualifier. In Sunday’s grand finale, the Turks delivered a straight-set victory over Germany to receive a well-deserved Daruma doll, symbolising their right to compete at the Games in the Japanese capital. Four European teams – Italy, Russia, Serbia and Turkey – will participate in the women’s Olympic Volleyball tournament in Tokyo from July 26 through August 9, 2020.



Final: Turkey vs. Germany 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22)

Turkey can start packing for their second participation in the Olympic Games. Coach Giovanni Guidetti’s squad prevailed over Germany in the final of the continental Olympic qualifier in Apeldoorn, mastering a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22) victory to book their ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Showing no signs of fatigue from the exhausting five-set semifinal they played the night before, Turkey stormed into the first set on a 7-2 run. With Hande Baladin on fire at the net and Zehra Gunes at 100% in the first-tempo attacks, the Turks left Germany no chance of coming back and expanded their lead to a convincing 25-17 ending. Baladin scored the winner with a strong shot off the opponent’s block. The second set was way more competitive and, although Turkish captain Eda Erdem Dundar showed great performances from the serving line and was impeccable in offence, the Germans managed to stay close behind in the score for the most part. After coach Felix Koslowski’s team came back to within a point at 20-19, the Turks reacted with five in a row on the serving turn of Meryem Boz and Eda Erdem’s kill block stopped the clocks at 25-19. With their backs against the wall, the Germans committed far too many mistakes in the third set. Despite Louisa Lippmann’s powerful attacks that brought in seven points and Marie Schoelzel’s three stuffs, the Turks kept the edge. Still, after two aces in a row by Hanna Orthmann, the score was level at 22-22. Luck was also on Turkey’s side when Naz Aydemir Akyol’s serve tipped the net and fell on the German side to deliver match point. Meliha Ismailoglu put the ball away to convert it to 25-22 and a 3-0 victory.



Turkey’s Hande Baladin was the best scorer of the match with 18 points to her name, followed by Germany’s Louisa Lippmann with 17.



The only time Turkey appeared at the Olympics was at London 2012 after winning the continental qualification at home in Ankara. At the Games in the British capital, they won two out of five matches, but failed to advance to the quarterfinals.


For further information, visit the official event website https://roadtotokyo.cev.eu.