Sports News

In today's Sports News we talk to Katerina Kurkova who - at just 19 - notched up a remarkable achievement last summer by winning the women's air rifle event at the World Shooting Championships. In ice hockey news, Sparta and Slavia are through to the semi-finals of the play-offs in the Extraliga and things have not been going well for Jaromir Jagr. And there's bad news for football fans: Rosicky is doubtful for the upcoming Euro 2004 qualifiers.

Shooting champion Kurkova pleased with 2002 achievements

At just 19 years of age, Katerina Kurkova notched up a remarkable achievement last summer by winning the women's air rifle event at the World Shooting Championships in Finland. Since then Kurkova, who is from Pilsen, has become a favourite with Czech sports fans - especially male sports fans. She crowned a successful 2002 by winning the Junior Czech Sportsperson of the Year award. Earlier this week Radio Prague spoke to Katerina Kurkova - was she was happy with her performances last season?

"Yeah, very happy. Last season was a big success for me. My win at the World Championships was a beautiful success, and I'm very happy about it."

Katerina is trained by her father Petr Kurka, himself a two-times world shooting champion. What's next for the young world champion?

"I am preparing for a competition in the United States, in Fort Benning...Maybe there will be a war, so we don't know."

And finally, what - for Katerina Kurkova - is the hardest thing about shooting at such a high level?

"Difficult are training, but more difficult are competitions because you are nervous there and your heart goes boom, boom, and you have to train for it."

Slavia, Sparta through to semis in Extraliga play-offs

Sparta against Ceske Budejovice, photo: CTK

Prague clubs Sparta and Slavia are both through to the semi-finals in the play-offs in ice hockey's Extraliga. Sparta advanced after a very physical encounter against Ceske Budejovice, which they won 5:0, and Slavia went through after putting six goals past Vsetin without reply. To the surprise of many Pardubice - who led the league all season - are having trouble against Znojmo. The sides are drawn at two wins each in the best of seven series, as are Vitkovice and Trinec.

Problems pile up for Jagr

Jaromir Jagr, photo: CTK

Leading Czech ice hockey star Jaromir Jagr is up against it at the moment. Not only is he out of action after breaking a bone in his hand, the Kladno-born player is being chased by the US authorities for over three million dollars in unpaid taxes and there have been press reports that he has gambling debts of half a million dollars.

Rosicky doubtful for Euro 2004 qualifiers

With just over two weeks to go before the Czech football team's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier away to the Netherlands, there are injury doubts about key midfielder Tomas Rosicky, after the 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund player strained his thigh in a recent Bundesliga game. Czech coach Karel Brueckner says however he is optimistic Rosicky will be back in action for the game in Rotterdam, which is followed a few days later by a home tie against Austria.