The Chinese team earned an 86-76 win over Great Britain in the first match of what was due to have been the Foshan qualifier but which was switched last week to the Serbian capital, where the home team already had their own qualifying group established.

 Having lost the opening quarter 21-26, China still trailed 43-46 at half-time before turning things round with a 22-13 scoreline in the third quarter.

 Xu Han top-scored for China with 16 points, although the top match scorer was Britain’s Johannah Leedham on 19.

 The victory leaves China second in Group B behind Spain, who are ahead on goal difference having beaten South Korea 83-46 in their opening match.

The Qualifying Tournaments offer 10 places for the Tokyo 2020 Games – twice as many as have been offered before – with both Belgrade’s Group B offering three places, and the Bourges group.

But only two Olympic places are on offer in Belgrade’s Group A and the Ostend group, as each contains a team already guaranteed a Tokyo 2020 place.

In Group A, hosts Serbia went down 69-88 to the United States, who qualified for the Olympics thanks to their victory in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018.

Nigeria beat Mozambique 85-51 in their opener and top Group A on points difference.

Meanwhile Japan, the Asian champions, who qualify for the Tokyo Olympics as hosts, won their opening match at the Ostend Dome, beating Sweden 75-54.

Canada then beat hosts Belgium 61-56.

At the Palais des Sports du Prado in Bourges, Puerto Rico got the action underway with a thrilling 91-89 win over Brazil, coming from 12 points down to win in overtime.

The hosts then defeated Australia 72-63 to top the group on points difference.