LONDON, Feb 23 - Italy will be able to defend its Olympic crown in women's water polo at the Beijing Games after reaching the semi-finals of the final qualifier.

  Italy defeated Spain 10-7 in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Imperia. Greece, silver medallists in 2004, also qualified by beating Canada 5-2 in Friday's quarter-finals.

  The two join Russia and Hungary, who qualified after winning their groups at this week's tournament, in the eight-team competition at the Olympics.

  China, the United States, Australia and the Netherlands had already qualified for the Aug. 8-24 Games.