Sports News

In Sports News: Roman Sebrle takes gold in the heptathlon in Madrid, despite picking up an injury on the first day; Lukas Bauer wins the third World Cup race of his career in cross country skiing; the ice hockey Extraliga playoffs are in full swing; the Czech tennis team are hammered 5:0 by Argentina in the Davis Cup and face playoffs yet again; Chelsea's Petr Cech finally concedes a league goal; and boos at Sparta Prague, despite another win.

Sebrle shakes off injury to take gold in hepathlon in Madrid

Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK

Czech decathlete Roman Sebrle took gold in the heptathlon at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Madrid at the weekend. Sebrle said before the event he wasn't in ideal form, and he considered dropping out after picking up a back injury on the first day. But the Olympic champion fought on, edging ahead of Aleksandr Pogorelov of Russia in the final event, the 1,000m.

"The race didn't go perfectly for me, especially the last lap, which I suppose is normal. The main thing was I gave it my all, I didn't want to come second and to have regrets afterwards. I'm completely whacked, but I won again!"

Roman Sebrle was the only Czech to take a medal in Madrid. Young high jumper Jaroslav Baba was dissatisfied with fourth place, but triple jumper Sarka Kasparkova was delighted to come fourth - the former world champion produced her best jump in six years.

Cross country skier Bauer into World Cup top 10 with third win of career

Lukas Bauer, photo: CTK

It was another good weekend in what has been a great season for Czech sking, with cross country skier Lukas Bauer coming first in the 15km free at Lahti, Finland on Sunday. The third World Cup win of his career lifted Bauer into ninth place in the overall standings.

"Last year I finished 11th overall, which included sprints. This year I'd like to improve on that, because after my terrible start to this season that would be an absolutely brilliant result."

Katerina Neummanova also did very well in cross country skiing, coming second in the 10km free. She is third overall in the World Cup.

Extraliga playoffs in full swing

Sparta Prague - Vitkovice, photo: CTK

The playoffs in the ice hockey Extraliga are now in full swing. Sparta Prague were humiliated 5:1 by Vitkovice in their opening match, but won their second clash 5:4 to make it 1:1 on games. Reigning champions Hame Zlin, meanwhile, are tied 1:1 with Litvinov. Slavia are 1:0 against Liberec after their opening game on Sunday, while Pardubice beat Kladno in their opening game.

Davis Cup whitewash for Czech Republic in Argentina

The Czech Republic suffered an absolute whitewash in their Davis Cup tennis tie against Argentina at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club at the weekend. A Czech team of Novak, Berdych, Zib and Hernych were beaten 5-0 by the Argentineans, and - for the third time in a row - will face playoffs to remain in the elite World Group.

Cech concedes league goal, but stretches record past 1,000-minute mark

Czech international football goalkeeper Petr Cech finally conceded a league goal on Saturday, having gone 1,025 minutes unbeaten at English league leaders Chelsea. But Cech probably won't be too upset - he did manage to stretch his Premiership record past the 1,000-minute mark, and Chelsea's 3:1 win took them another step closer to winning the title.

Young Czechs among the goals in Bundesliga

In Germany, Vaclav Sverkos helped Borussia Monchengladbach to a win over Wolfsburg, scoring the only goal of the game after coming on in the 80th minute. Tomas Rosicky, meanwhile, scored from the penalty spot in Borussia Dortmund's 2:2 draw with Nurnberg. His Czech team-mate Jan Koller is currently on the mend after a bout of pneumonia.

Sparta sell Kovac, come under fire from home fans despite win

Sparta Prague defender Radoslav Kovac has just joined Spartak Moscow for 120 million crowns (almost 5.5 million US dollars). He will play alongside fellow Czech Martin Jiranek. Kovac was missed by Sparta in their 4:2 win over Blsany on Saturday, one of only two games played in the Czech league due to the freezing weather. Sparta new boy Miroslav Matusovic was roundly booed by the club's fans - his former club Ostrava are bitter rivals of the league leaders. And new coach Jaroslav Hrebik also came in for abuse from the Sparta faithful, who have not forgiven the club's management for sacking Frantisek Straka. Straka, meanwhile, has been appointed manager of German second division side Ahlen.