BELGRADE, Feb. 8 -- China overcame European champion Spain 64-62 at the FIBA Women's Olympic qualifying tournaments here on Saturday, securing its ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Chinese women won over the world's bronze medalist after 40 minutes of fast counterattacks and pressuring defense (12-15, 22-6, 18-17, 12-24).

After an initial lead of China in the second game of the Group B tournament at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, Alba Torrens annulled its 4-point gap with a three-pointer and Christina Ouvina scored to put Spain in the lead.

Han Xu prevented the Spanish team from separating early with six consecutive points, but Nogaye Lo scored in the finish of the quarter for Spain's three-point lead.

China set the score even and took the lead in the second quarter with several scoring series. After Spain's technical foul, Yang Liwei and Li Meng scored a three-pointer each to separate China, while Sun Mengran and Li Yueru expanded the lead to 13 points thanks to defensive rebounds and counterattacks and set the halftime score (34-21).

China continued to build the lead in the third quarter thanks to the precise field goals of Li Yueru, Li Yuan and Wang Liwei, managing to stay 14 points in front of Spain before the final encounter.

Spain played an amazing fourth quarter spearheaded by Torrens and Laura Nicholls, but in key moments, Shao Ting and Li Meng saved the day and prevented the Spanish team from getting to close.

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