Women's volleyball Olympic champions China qualified to Tokyo 2020 following victory Ningbo ©FIVB

China secured their place at Tokyo 2020 to defend their women's volleyball Olympic title from Rio 2016 after they beat Turkey in straight sets in Ningbo.

The hosts triumphed 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 at Beilun Gymnasium to clinch top spot in Pool B on the last day of the International Volleyball Federation Women's Intercontinental Tokyo 2020 Qualification Tournament.

Captain Zhu Ting, the Most Valuable Player at Rio 2016, bagged a match-high 20 points, with a 56 per cent attacking efficiency plus three blocks and two aces.

Zhang Changning added another 16 points with an attacking ratio of 61 per cent plus four blocks and one ace.

The other match in Pool B saw Germany defeat Czech Republic 25-18, 25-22, 25-16 to finish third behind runners-up Turkey.

Also qualifying for Tokyo 2020 were Italy, Russia, Serbia and the United States.

Pool F hosts Italy ensured a first-place finish by overcoming The Netherlands 25-23, 25-17, 25-22 at PalaCatania.

Their opponents came second in the standings ahead of Belgium, 25-15, 25-14, 25-7 winners over Kenya.

Russia and the US, bronze medallists at Rio 2016, also prevailed on home soil, in Pools E and C respectively.

The Russians were on the brink of crashing out after going two sets down to South Korea, but fought back for a 21-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-16 win at DS Yantarny in Kaliningrad.

Canada finished third in Pool E following their 25-22, 25-15, 25-17 victory over Mexico.

The US, meanwhile, booked their ticket to Tokyo 2020 with a 25-22, 25-17, 25-13 defeat of Argentina at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City.

They ended Pool C undefeated and were followed in the standings by Bulgaria, 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 victors over Kazakhstan.

Reigning world champions Serbia were pushed hard by hosts Poland in the Pool A decider at Hala Orbita in Wrocław, but the Rio 2016 silver medallists came from behind in the fourth set to secure their Tokyo 2020 berth with a 21-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-23 win.

Thailand completed the top three with a 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-18 victory over Puerto Rico.

Two-time Olympic champions Brazil became the first team to qualify to Tokyo 2020 following their 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 18-25, 15-10 win over the Dominican Republic at home in Uberlândia on Saturday.

The six pool winners join hosts Japan at next year’s Olympics, while the five other spots will be filled at continental qualifiers in January.