Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013

CHUNGJU: ’s women’s quadruple sculls team members (from left) , , Genevieve Armstrong and Erin-Monique Shelton, take part in the World Championships. — AP Murray and Bond reach pairs final

CHUNGJU: and of Wojciech Gutorski and Jaroslaw Godek of Pratt and finished third. Pairs Jeremie Azou of France finished first in the New Zealand advanced to the final of the Poland won the other semifinal in men’s from Romania, the Netherlands and South men’s single sculls semifinals, finishing ahead men’s pairs event at the rowing world cham- pairs, followed by and Africa advanced in the other semifinal. of defending champion Henrik Stephansen of pionships yesterday. of Italy. Alexander In other events, Michaela Taupe-Traer of Denmark and Peter Galambos of Hungary. Murray and Hamish, seeking their fourth Sigurbjonsson Benet and Pau Vela Maggi of Austria led from start to finish in the women’s Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale of New consecutive world title, finished three sec- Spain were third. single sculls semifinals. Aikaterini Nikolaidou Zealand was forced to pull out of the semifi- onds ahead of the French duo of Germain In the women’s semifinals, of Greece was second, with Alena nals after aggravating a rib injury in the quar- Chardin and in yesterday’s and Polly Swann of Britain won to remain Kryvasheyenka of Belarus third. terfinals. semifinals. Rogier Blink and Mitchel unbeaten this season, finishing ahead of Ruth Walczak of Britain, 2011 world cham- Pedro Fraga of Portugal, Jonathan Koch of Steenman of the Netherlands finished third Taylor Goetzinger and Meghan Musnicki of pion Fabiana Belgrame of Brazil and Ursula Germany and Michael Schmid of Switzerland to qualify for Saturday’s final. the United States. New Zealand pair Kayla Grobler of South Africa also reached the final. qualified from the other semifinal. — AP Stade Francais to inaugurate new stadium

PARIS: Stade Francais will inaugurate a said. “We’ve had a more ambitious Lydiate and Jamie Roberts, to the sword well as the suspension of Christopher refurnished Jean-Bouin stadium when recruitment than in recent seasons and last week in a runaway 41-14 victory. Tolofua. they take on Biarritz in Top 14 action the goal is to stabilise the squad.” Racing will look to rebound at home Reinforcements will also come in the today. Stade president Thomas Savare Stade will have Morne Steyn avail- against newly-promoted Oyonnax. shape of Springbok duo Chiliboy called the home stadium in west Paris a able for the visit of Biarritz, one of five of Saturday’s plum fixture sees Clermont Ralepelle and Gurthro Steenkamp, “fundamental element” for the club, South Africa’s Rugby Championship take on Toulouse, the latter already in although the former will not be avail- which has played at the cross-city squad to have been released to play for the midst of a front-row injury crisis able as he recovers from a back injury. Charlety stadium during the reconstruc- French clubs this weekend. with the season only two games old. Clermont’s Kiwi coach Vern Cotter tion. “Without Jean-Bouin, I would Among the four others is winger “The story goes on. Last year we had said it was imperative that his team absolutely not have taken over Stade Bryan Habana, the 2007 Rugby World the same problems in the same posi- bounce back from a shock 30-19 defeat Francais,” said Savare. “It’s impossible to Cup winner who is all set to make his tions,” said Toulouse president Jean- by Oyonnax. “We’re still at the start of envisage having a club in the Top 14 Top 14 debut at Grenoble. Rene Bouscatel. the season,” Cotter said. “Some things without a modern working arena, espe- Habana is the latest big-name sign- In their convincing 40-3 victory over worked, other less so. cially in Paris.” ing for Mourad Boudjellal’s Toulon, who Bayonne last weekend, props Vasil “We have to analyse and advance.” The rejigged stadium will be able to romped to European Cup victory last Kakovin (ruptured knee ligaments) and Clermont will play six games in seat 20,000, with Savare aiming for an season but went down to Castres in the Antoine Guillamon (hand fracture), and September, including three in average gate of 13,500. The president Top 14 final. hooker Jaba Bregvadze (back) all went days, and Cotter called on the squad to also hopes that on-field performances “Toulon is a new challenge, a new off injured and all will be out for a long come together. “Toulouse are ahead of will improve, with his target a spot in environment, it’s exciting,” Habana said while. That leaves forwards coach us. We’ve got a week to catch up.” the end-of-season play-offs. of his move to the Mediterranean club. William Servat likely to be summoned Elsewhere, champions Castres travel to “It’s tough, probably even more than Toulon put fellow big spenders to change out of his tracksuit, as he was Bordeaux-Begles, Bayonne host last year, because it’s a very competitive Racing-Metro, bolstered by British and last season after injuries to South Perpignan, and Montpellier entertain championships, but possible,” Savare Irish Lions signings Johnny Sexton, Dan African Gary Botha and Bregvadze, as Brive. — AFP