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■ SOCCER
Real Betis fire Fernandez
Struggling Real Betis have sacked their coach Luis Fernandez, the club announced after an emergency directors' meeting on Sunday. The Spanish-born former French international was dismissed after Betis crashed 5-0 at home to Osasuna on Saturday, a result that means they could still be relegated. Fernandez. Betis are two places and one point above the relegation zone and have not won in their last 12 league outings.

■ TENNIS
Borg mauled in dogfight
Five-times Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg has been forced to pull out of his first grasscourt singles match in England for 26 years after being bitten by a dog. The 51-year-old Swede had been due to play in the Liverpool International tennis tournament, but organizers said on Sunday Borg was hurt trying to stop a dogfight at his home in Sweden. The tournament Web site said Borg's Golden Retriever had been attacked by a German Shepherd and the former French Open champion was severely bitten on his right leg after stepping in to separate them.

■ SOCCER
Napoli and Genoa promoted
Napoli and Genoa were both promoted to Serie A on Sunday after the two teams played out a goalless draw on the final day of the second division season. The stalemate was enough for the two fallen giants of Italian soccer to join Serie B champions Juventus back in the top flight. A point for Napoli saw them finish second behind Juve and claim the second automatic promotion spot. Genoa, winners of nine Serie A titles in their 114-year history, avoided the play-offs courtesy of their 10-point advantage over fourth-placed Piacenza. Under new rules brought in at the start of the season, the club finishing third avoids the play-offs if they have 10 or more points than the team in fourth place.

■ SOCCER
Inter confirm Figo staying
Portuguese star Luis Figo has decided to stay with Inter Milan for another season, the Italian Serie A champions confirmed on yesterday. A statement on Inter's Web site said the 34-year-old forward will soon sign a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until June next year. Inter said the European Footballer of the Year in 2000 and World Footballer of the Year in 2001, will then take up a position at the club as their international relations manager. Figo, who joined Inter in 2005 was close to moving to Saudi club Al Ittihad during the January transfer window but the switch fell through.

■ GOLF
European Tour goes to India
India will host a European Tour golf tournament for the first time next year. The US$2.5 million Indian Masters will be played in New Delhi from Feb. 7-10, promoters and organizers announced yesterday. The tournament will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the Indian Golf Union. "Golf is fast becoming extremely popular in India," said Mohamed Juma Buamain, chief executive of Golf in Dubai, the promoter of the event. The news was welcomed by leading Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh. "This is just fantastic news for Indian golf," he said. "I think it is also an acknowledgment of the superb results posted by Indian golfers across the globe. A tournament of this stature is sure to catalyze exponential growth of the game back home."


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