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■ BOXING

Mundine to fight compatriot

Anthony Mundine said yesterday he will defend his WBA super-middleweight world title against fellow Australian Nader Hamdan in Sydney on Feb. 27. Mundine, who won his second title defense against Argentine Jose Alberto Clavero on Dec. 12, has won 30 fights (23 by knockout) with three defeats. Hamdan, 33, has lost three of his last five fights to take his record to 40-5. Hamdan has never had a crack at a world title in his 10-year professional career, but Mundine insists his mate is "the real deal." "I wouldn't take a fight if I thought he was going to be another easy opponent," Mundine said yesterday.



■ SKYDIVING

World champ hospitalized

World champion skydiver Loic Jean-Albert is recovering in a hospital after crashing on Tuesday, newspapers reported. The 30-year-old Frenchman crashed near Wanaka on New Zealand's South Island during a speed riding session. Speed riding involves skydivers traveling low to the ground around a preset slalom course. Jean-Albert was able to complete the course before seeking treatment from paramedics, the Southland Times reported. The newspaper said Jean-Albert, the world speed riding champion, was in a stable condition in hospital with pelvic injuries.



■ CRICKET

Players face taxing problem

India players are angry that earnings on their current tour of Australia will be taxed by local authorities. Newspapers reported on Wednesday that new Australia tax laws mean up to A$1.5 million (US$1.29 million) in payments and tour fees paid to Indian players will be claimed by federal taxes. The players do not pay taxes on those earnings in India but only on income from sponsorships, the newspapers reported. Tax laws imposed in July 2004 require all entertainers and sportsmen working in Australia to pay taxes. India team media manager MK Shridhar said the Board of Control for Cricket in India was looking at ways to get around the tax problem.



■ RUGBY UNION

England star may be jailed

England outside-half Olly Barkley risks a potential prison sentence after being charged with assault over an alleged attack on a fellow guest at a wedding in July. Barkley, who was a member of England's World Cup squad in France this year, will appear before a Magistrates' Court at Aylesbury near London on Dec. 31 to answer charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and an unlimited fine. Pending his appearance in court, Barkley will be free to carry on playing for his English Premiership club, Bath, who stressed that the player would be contesting the charges. "Olly vigorously contests wrongdoing on his part, as he has done from the outset," a statement said.



■ TENNIS

Federer, Henin win awards

Roger Federer and Justine Henin are Tennis magazine's 2007 players of the year. It's the fifth consecutive time Federer has won the monthly publication's award. "Roger's serve is more of a weapon than it may appear, and that forehand is deadly," Pete Sampras writes in the January-February issue. "What most impressed me, though was the speed at which he can go from defense to offense. His ability to take command from any place on the court, at any stage of a point, may be his greatest gift of all.
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