Swimming: The participation, or not, of Germany's world champion freestyler Franziska van Almsick in the European short course championships, which start at Dublin's Abbotstown tomorrow, will be confirmed this afternoon, according to organising committee administrator Pat Donovan.
This was in response to a Reuters report claiming the five times European and also world champion had withdrawn from the competition because of sinusitis, even though her forte, the 200 metres freestyle, is not scheduled until the final day on Sunday, with Ireland's Chantal Gibney figuring in the heats of the same event.
Still absent from Ireland's 12 strong team yesterday were exam-tied Andrew Bree (in Tennessee) and Michael Williamson (in Coventry).
Bree figures in his favourite event, the 200 metres breaststroke - heats on Sunday - and is reckoned to be Ireland's best prospect for a final place and indeed a medal.
TENNIS: Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has split with his coach Peter Lundgren after the most successful year of his career.
The 22-year-old has been working with the Swedish coach, a close friend, since 1998 and yesterday's announcement came just three weeks after Federer won the season-ending Masters Cup, thrashing Andre Agassi in the final.
No decision on a successor has been made, a statement on Federer's personal website said.
Federer won more prize money in 2003 than any other player - $4 million - and finished second in the rankings behind American Andy Roddick.
BOXING: Light welterweight Francis Barrett believes his showdown with Oscar Hall at Bethnal Green's York Hall tomorrow night could prove pivotal to his hopes of a resurrecting his professional career.
The 26-year-old Galway fighter, now based in Wembley, knows the 10-round encounter with Hall will be all about underlining his credentials on the professional stage.
Barrett said: "This will be the start of big things for me. I've had a bit of an up-and-down year but overall, I am happy with it, I've achieved a lot.
"It all kicked off winning my first professional title by beating Jon Honney for the Southern Area crown but whilst I then lost to Silence Saheed, it was on an unfortunate cut and by winning next time out I proved I have it in me to bounce back when required."
Barrett insisted, however, he would not be taking the threat of former ABA champion Hall lightly and confessed: "I'm reckoning on Oscar taking me a few, hard rounds. It's is going to be a good, old-fashioned fight. Oscar has undoubted credentials and up until last time out he was unbeaten in 24.
"There is no-one I fear in Britain and I'd particularly like the chance to beat Ricky Hatton again, having done it in the amateurs."
CRICKET: Sri Lanka have dropped off spinner Kumar Dharmasena to beef up their batting for the second Test against England which starts today.
Middle-order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan replaces Dharmasena, one of three specialist spinners in the first Test.
England, who name their team this morning, will welcome back former captain Nasser Hussain who missed the first game with a throat infection.
Paul Collingwood, who helped save the first test in Galle with a three-hour 36, is expected to step down.
Seamer James Anderson is tipped to return and replace Richard Johnson after recovering from an ankle injury sustained playing squash just before the first test.
SRI LANKA: H Tillakaratne (capt), M Atapattu, S Jayasuriya, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, T Dilshan, T Samaraweera, U Chandana, C Vaas, D Fernando, M Muralitharan.
ENGLAND (from): M Vaughan (capt), M Trescothick, M Butcher, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, N Hussain, R Clarke, A Giles, R Croft, G Batty, J Kirtley, R Johnson, M Hoggard, C Read, G Jones, P Collingwood, J Anderson.
