The South Korean women’s volleyball team is headed for the 2012 London Olympics, the first time since 2000, after a strong win over Thailand at the qualifying tournament in Japan on Saturday.

<YONHAP PHOTO-0646> South Korea's Kim Yeon-Koung (R) spikes the ball over Thailand's Tomkom Nootsara (L) during their women's volleyball qualifying tournament match for the London Olympics in Tokyo, on May 26, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI../2012-05-26 18:08:25/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2012 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> Korea’s Kim Yeon-koung spikes the ball against Thailand on Saturday. AFP-Yonhap News
South Korea's Kim Yeon-Koung (R) spikes the ball over Thailand's Tomkom Nootsara (L) during their women's volleyball qualifying tournament match for the London Olympics in Tokyo, on May 26, 2012. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI../2012-05-26 18:08:25/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2012 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> Korea’s Kim Yeon-koung spikes the ball against Thailand on Saturday. AFP-Yonhap News

Korea is now 4-2, placing it in second at the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Women’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament before Sunday’s game against Peru.

Korea’s Kim Yeon-koung spikes the ball against Thailand on Saturday. (AFP-Yonhap News)

The Korean team secured its ticket to London after Thailand took down Cuba with a four-set victory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Sunday.

Going into Sunday, Korea had needed a win against Peru to guarantee its Olympic bid but Thailand’s win over Cuba finalized things for Korea.

Thailand’s game put Korea in second place after Russia. Japan is in third.

Korea’s place on the podium is likely to surprise analysts once again after Korea, internationally ranked 13th, bested Japan, ranked third, 3-1 last Wednesday.

This will be the first Olympics for the Korean women’s volleyball team since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. That year, Korea came in eighth after being knocked out by the U.S. in the quarterfinals.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldm.com)


koreaherald@heraldcorp.com