IN BRIEF (Page 23)
Soccer
Brazil strikes late for 3-1 defeat of Mexico
BOSTON: Brazil struck twice inside the last 10 minutes to record a come-from-behind 3-1 win against Mexico in a lively friendly on Wednesday.
Mexico went ahead in the 43rd minute with Juan Carlos Cacho's first goal for his country, only for Brazil to draw level two minutes later through Kleber's first strike in national colours.
Mexico keeper Guillermo Ochoa produced a series of saves to keep his side level but Kaka put the Brazilians 2-1 up in the 80th minute.
Despite being down to 10 men following the dismissal of Elano, Brazil substitute Afonso added a third four minutes from time to complete a successful pair of friendlies after its 4-2 victory against the United States on Sunday.
Brazil, who had coach Dunga sent off in the final stages after arguing with the fourth official, begins its World Cup qualification campaign away to Colombia on October 13.
Velez returns to winning ways, River shocked by Arsenal
BUENOS AIRES: Velez Sarsfield beat Estudiantes 1-0 in the Argentina championship on Wednesday, going some way to erasing memories of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of River Plate at the weekend.
Velez moved within one point of leaders Independiente while River dropped back down the table after a shock 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the topsy-turvy championship.
Boca Juniors beat lowly Olimpo 2-0 to go level on points with Independiente as the midweek games left six points separating the top 10 teams after eight rounds of games.
Athletics
Italian pole vaulter wins appeal against doping ban
ROME: Former world champion pole vaulter Giuseppe Gibilisco on Wednesday won an appeal against a two-year ban for his involvement in a doping scandal.
The 28-year-old was found guilty by the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) of having worked with Carlo Santuccione, an Italian doctor under investigation for supplying several high-profile sportsmen with doping products.
Gibilisco, a bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was accused of having taken or having attempted to take performance-enhancing drugs.
However the Italian always protested his innocence and said Santuccione had only prescribed him substances which are legal.
The Italian appealed to the FIDAL appeals board, which acquitted him of all wrongdoing. The board said it would announce the reasons behind its decision "within a week."
Tennis
India's Mirza in injury doubt for home WTA event
MUMBAI: India's Sania Mirza could miss next week's home WTA event in Kolkata due to a wrist injury, she said on Wednesday.
Mirza, 20, has not played since the US Open earlier this month, where she reached the third round of the singles and the quarterfinals of the doubles.
"I haven't hit any balls since I've come back and it has been around five or six days," the world No 27, told reporters. "I'm going to get on the court in a couple of days and see how it feels.
"I'm hoping to play but I'm going to make a decision probably on Sunday or Monday, probably that morning because I'm going to wait till the last second to see how it heals."
Olympics
French skiing legend to oversee Sochi 2014
GENEVA: French skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy will head the coordination commission overseeing preparations for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday.
Killy, a three-time ski gold medallist in 1968 and a long-standing Olympic official, had already overseen preparations for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and helped organise the 1992 Games in Albertville, France.
"Jean-Claude Killy's knowledge of the Olympic Movement makes him the ideal person to guide Sochi as it prepares for the Olympic Winter Games in 2014," IOC President Jacques Rogge said in a statement.
"His relevant and recent experience as an outstanding chairman of the Turin 2006 Coordination Commission will be a great asset for the IOC and for Sochi," he added.
Sochi, on Russia's Black Sea coast near the Caucasus mountains, was awarded the 2014 Winter Games in Guatemala City on July 4.
(China Daily 09/14/2007 page23)
