Wed, Jan 06, 2016 page18

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  OLYMPICS

  Rio stadium goes dark

  The track and field stadium for this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics was without power on Monday, with the city hall and Rio soccer club Botafogo blaming each other for unpaid utility bills. In a statement to The Associated Press, the city hall said Botafogo has been responsible for the utility bills since May last year. However, the club said that the city government owed it money to pay water and electricity bills. The Brazilian newspaper Globoesporte said the unpaid bills totaled 1 million reals (US$250,000). Brazil is in the middle of a deep recession, forcing cutbacks on Olympic organizers.

  RUGBY SEVENS

  Friend made Aussie coach

  Former ACT Brumbies coach Andy Friend has been appointed coach of the Australia rugby sevens team and will guide the side to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The 46-year-old Friend, who has most recently been coaching Suntory Sungoliath in Japan’s Top League, takes over from interim coach Scott Bowen, who has led the side since Welshman Geraint Jones resigned unexpectedly in August. Friend, who has agreed a two-and-half-year contract, said Australia are “capable of beating any side in the world.”

  RUGBY UNION

  Mitchell to coach US team

  Former New Zealand coach John Mitchell has been hired by the US to lead the national team into the 2020 World Cup. USA Rugby on Monday announced that Mitchell had signed a four-year contract with the Eagles. He replaces Mike Tolkin, who left the head coach’s position after the US lost all four pool stage games at the World Cup in England last year. “I see this as a wonderful opportunity to play a key part in inspiring, mentoring, creating confidence and stability in transforming USA Rugby into a strong, globally-competitive unit by the end of 2019,” Mitchell said. Mitchell, a no-nonsense disciplinarian, was All Blacks coach from 2001 to 2003 and England assistant coach from 1997 to 2000.

  SOCCER

  Rennes down Nice in Cup

  Stade Rennais grabbed the final spot available in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France with a 7-6 victory on penalties over fellow first-division side OGC Nice in Nice, France, on Monday. The teams were tied at 2-2 after extra-time and Gelson Fernandes scored the winning penalty. After Alexandre Mendy gave Nice an early lead, Jeremie Boga equalized with eight minutes left at the end of an impressive team move. The visitors then took the lead through Benjamin Andre’s shot in the top corner in extra time, but Nice winger Hatem Ben Arfa put the teams level from the penalty spot. Rennes will play second-tier side Bourg-en-Bresse Peronnas in the next round, which will also feature four matches between Ligue 1 clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain against Toulouse.

  TENNIS

  Coric and Pavic advance

  Croatian players Borna Coric and Ante Pavic each earned three-set wins over Spanish opponents on Monday to reach the second round of the Chennai Open. The eighth-seeded Coric defeated Marcel Granollers 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-4, while Pavic beat Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1). Also, John Millman of Australia rallied for a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win over Evgeny Donskoy of Russia as all three matches on the opening day went to three sets. The 44th-ranked Coric made several forehand errors, but got his game together for his second win over Granollers.
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