Volleyball Challenger Cups offer a route to the Volleyball Nations League for the winners.

France began the eight-team women's tournament with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-17 win against Vietnam, and overcame Ukraine 25-10, 25-20, 25-22 in the semi-finals at the Espace Mayenne.

They faced a Sweden side who had beaten Mexico in five sets and Colombia in three, and the hosts prevailed 25-21, 25-16, 22-25, 25-15.

The victory earned them a place in next year's Volleyball Nations League, replacing this year's last-placed challenger team Croatia, who were beaten by Ukraine in Laval.

France also climbed from 21st to 17th in a boost to their preparations for their home Olympic Games in Paris next year.

Colombia took the bronze in Laval with a 25-23, 12-25, 26-24, 25-22 victory against Ukraine.

In the men's Volleyball Challenger Cup at the Aspire Ladies Sports Hall, last year's runner-up Turkey went one better by beating hosts Qatar 25-13, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9 in the final.

That followed on from a 25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19 victory for Turkey against the Dominican Republic in the quarter-finals and an 18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 15-13 win in the semi-finals against Ukraine.

Ukraine recovered to take bronze 25-21, 25-19, 25-18.

World number 12 side Turkey are set to replace China, who lost to Ukraine in the quarter-finals, in next year's Volleyball Nations League.