Peru captain Mirtha Uribe focus on Rio 2016 qualification

Tokyo, Japan, May 10, 2016 – Peru captain Mirtha Uribe stressed that their team’s focus is on qualifying to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Peru are in Japan for the 2016 World Olympic Qualification Tournament, which is set to begin on May 14 in Tokyo.

In an interview with Andina news agency, Uribe shared her thoughts on the their goals and chances, when they compete against seven teams from across the continent to obtain one of the three available spots in Rio 2016.

Uribe believes their opening match against hosts Japan as the most difficult but she remains optimistic and focused to achieve what they came for.

“Our match against home team Japan will be the most important and difficult,” Uribe said. “However, we have studied their game and we know we must play skilfully. We have a very young team but we are very mature and we are focused on our goals.”

Peru will play against Japan, the Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands and Thailand in the Round Robin tournament.

Peru have participated in seven Olympic Games, but with their last outing coming at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, they are overdue a return. However, recent history is not on the side of the 1988 silver medallists, with just one win coming from their last World Olympic Qualification Tournament.