Shock as Bonitta leaves Diouf out of Olympic qualifying squad

The Italian Media are describing it as a bombshell, the decision by women’s volleyball coach Marco Bonitta to leave Valentina Diouf out of the squad of 14 to contest this week’s Olympic qualifiers in Tokyo.

Diouf, who was Italy’s highest scorer at the 2014 World Championships and second highest scorer at last year’s World Grand Prix, was part of the 15-strong squad who travelled to Japan, but left on Friday after the final squad of 14 was announced.

In what is being described as a ‘technical choice’, coach Bonitta has preferred the more experienced Nadia Centoni and the in-form Serena Ortolani over the 23-year-old who has caught the imagination of the Italian public in recent years.

Italy is one of eight times vying for four positions on offer in Rio, with at least one of those places reserved for the highest ranked Asian team.

Italy has been to every Olympics since Sydney 2000, and has finished fifth at the past three Games.

The team currently has a world ranking of seven, and plays Korea, who is hoping to qualify for an 11th Olympics, on Saturday.