Vanuatu's Olympic beach volleyball dream remains on hold after they were beaten in the final of the Asian Continental Cup in Cairns.
Vanuatu's top team of Linline Matauatu and Miller Pata won the first set 21-19 but the Under 23 World Champions, Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Nikki Laird from Australia, fought back to win the next two 21-19 19-17, eventually claiming victory on the fifth match point.
The second team of Loti Joe and Sherysyn Toko were beaten in straight sets 22-20 21-16 by Becchara Palmer and Phoebe Bell to confirm Australia's second berth in Rio.
Vanuatu's final chance to make it to Brazil will be at next week's World Continental Cup finals in Sochi, Russia.
The top two teams from the final Olympic Qualifying competition will advance to Rio.
The Vanuatu team at the Asian Continental Cup in Cairns. Photo: AVC Continental Cup
