Japan clinch berth to Paris 2024 as best-placed team from Asia

OKINAWA (Japan) - Japan will be flying to Paris for next year's Olympic Games after clinching the direct qualification spot as the best-placed team from Asia in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

The team confirmed their entry following a thrilling 80-71 victory over Cape Verde at the Okinawa Arena on Saturday night for a rousing conclusion to their campaign. They finished with a 3-2 win-loss record to end up as the no. 1 team in Group O of the classification phase.

With this, Akatsuki Japan secured their return ticket to the Olympics after hosting the previous edition in Tokyo. It will be their first consecutive appearance in the prestigious competition since seeing action in 1972 and 1976 in Munich and Montreal, respectively.

"We're going to Paris," said head coach Tom Hovasse shortly after the victory. "These are the moments where you really get a chance to prove yourself, but also improve yourself. That's the mindset all of our guys have. We've got some young guys that really stepped up."

"I'm just excited. I'm really grateful and thankful for this opportunity. I'm really looking forward to the Paris Olympics," the veteran bench tactician added.

Japan have become the fourth confirmed team alongside Paris 2024 hosts France, Australia, and South Sudan, with four more automatic berths still up for grabs at the World Cup.

"It was great to win and get the Paris Olympics ticket," expressed Keisei Tominaga, who finished with 22 points on 6 three-pointers in the character-testing triumph.

Stay up to date with all the teams in contention with our Olympic qualification tracker, here.

FIBA