Sports News

In today’s sports: Petr Čech gets the all clear after an injury scare, the weekend results from the Czech Gambrinus league and disappointment for Tomáš Berdych in Kuala Lumpur.

Petr Čech, photo: Filip Jandourek

Starting with football and one of the Czech Republic’s most high profile exports Petr Čech has been given the all-clear to resume playing after being taken to hospital with a head injury suffered during Chelsea’s League Cup win over Fulham last week.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper – who still plays in protective headgear after fracturing his skull in a collision with an oppoent five years ago, was forced off at halftime in the match after smashing into Fulham debutant Orlando Sa.

However, following their 4-3 penalty shootout win, Chelsa coach André Villas-Boas said Čech had been given the all clear.

André Villas-Boas, photo: Vladimir Maiorov, Creative Commons 1.0

"Petr went for a scan in the hospital and he's okay," he told reporters. "He felt a little bit dizzy from the early concussion at halftime. We decided, and he decided as well, it was better not to take risks."

Čech returned to the Chelsea team at the weekend, as the London club beat Swansea 4-1 in a Premier League match.

Weekend results from the Czech Gambrinus League saw Jablonec move up to second place after a 3-1 home victory over Viktoria Žižkov. Champions Viktoria Plzeň scraped out a goalless draw with yet to win České Budějovice.

Monday evening will see the first Prague Derby of the season when Sparta entertain Slavia at Letná.

Viktoria Plzeň - České Budějovice, photo: CTK

Slavia are struggling with only one win from their first seven matches wheras Sparta are riding high with maximum 21 points from their 7 games to date.

Should Sparta triumph it would emphasise even further the widening gulf between Prague top‘s top teams and highlight even more sharply the demise in fortunes of the once-great Slavia. The two clubs have never been so far apart before the winter break.

"For us it is the biggest league game of the autumn. But position iná the table does not play a role," said Sparta coach Martin Hašek.

"It is true that we’re at opposite ends of the table" said Slavia coach Michael Petrouš. "But derby matches are specific – any team can win no matter where they are in the table.”

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Tomáš Berdych, photo: CTK

Tennis now and it appears all is not well with Czech player Tomáš Berdych’s right shoulder. Currently tenth in the world rankings, Berdych has been forced to withdraw from in ATP event in Kuala Lumpur.

"I played my singles for the Czech Davis Cup team and the inflammation returned. I need a few more days rest," Berdych told the organisers website.

Problems with his right shoulder have beleaguered the Czech since a series of U.S. tournaments. After intensive treatment with consultant Pavel Kolář, Berdych was able to compete in the Czech Republic’s recent Davis Cup win over Romania - where he won the singles and then doubles alongside Radek Štěpánek.

"I really feel sorry that I cant play in Kuala Lumpur. I have done well there in recent years," he said.

Petra Kvitová, photo: CTK

The draw for the 2012 Davis Cup has been made – and the Czech have been drawn at home to Italy in the first round.

Petra Kvitová lies in 6th place in the latest WPT world rankings – although she would surely have been higher had it not been for her early exit at the US Open. Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova – the player who Kvitová defeated in the Wimbledon final – take the top two spots.

Kvitová does, however, lead the 2011 earnings chart with 3.2 million US dollars in prize money this – so the next round’s on you. Petra.

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Finally, the World Cycling Championships in Copenhagen proved to be a torrid affair for Czech representatives Jan Bárta and Petr Benčík – both riders were involved in a crash involving a group of competitors and failed to finish the race.

British cyclist Mark Cavendish claimed gold, out-sprinting the Australian Matthew Goss. The Bronze was won by German André Greipel.