Argentina earn Olympic volleyball berth

Rio de Janeiro: Argentina have qualified for next year's Olympic men's volleyball tournament by winning the South American qualification competition.

The Argentinians beat Venezuela 3-2 (25-12, 22-25, 25-12, 25-27, 15-12) in the final of the tournament in Caracas, Xinhua quoted the organisers as saying on Tuesday. 

Brazil, the US and Italy are the other teams to have already secured a place at the first Olympics in South America.

Brazil qualified by virtue of being the host nation while the US and Italy advanced as World Cup winners and runners up respectively.

Venezuela and Chile, who finished third in the South American qualifiers, can still earn a Rio 2016 berth via the World Olympic qualification tournament next May.