In Sports News this Monday: the Czechs take only one medal at the European Athletics Championships, bronze for Barbora Špotáková in the javelin – coach Tomáš Dvořák says a young team is still lacking something; shooter Kateřina Emmons fails to reach the finals at the ISSF World Championship in Munich; and Plzeň top the Czech football league, while champions Sparta lose their second game in three.
Disappointment for Czech athletes at European championships
Petr Svoboda, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic had a disappointing time to say the least at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. Many members of the Czech team did manage to reach the finals in their disciplines, but nevertheless it was the country’s poorest showing in the competition since 1990 in terms of actual medals. Among the medal hopefuls, Petr Svoboda was left holding his head in despair after tripping when on course for victory in the men’s 110 m hurdles, Zuzana Hejnová faded at the finish of the women’s 400 m hurdles, and Petr Frydrych could only manage to come 10th in the men’s javelin, with a throw over 10 metres short of his best this year. Only Olympic champion Barbora Špotáková reached the podium, and she had to be satisfied with bronze in the women’s javelin. Former decathlete Tomáš Dvořák is now the head coach of the Czech team:
“I thought that even though they are a young team, they’re also experienced. But still they’re lacking that little bit. Zuzka Hejnová is very experienced: she’s taken part in so many competitions and been to the Olympics, so she knows what to do, but she clearly let herself get carried away. There’s no point even talking about Petr Svoboda…he wasn’t the first person to experience something like that, and he won’t be the last.”
Shooter Kateřina Emmons misses out on final in first major tournament since maternity leave
Kateřina Emmons, photo: Petr Novák, Wikipedia
Olympic gold medallist Kateřina Emmons came away empty-handed from her first major shooting tournament since returning from maternity leave, the ISSF World Championship in Munich. The 26-year-old failed even to reach the final in the only event she took part in, the women’s 10 m air rifle, after finishing 19th in qualification. It was only the second time in her 10-year career that Emmons did not take a medal in a top competition.
Plzeň lead Czech league while champions Sparta lose second game in three
Pavel Horváth, photo: CTK
After three rounds Viktoria Plzeň top the Czech league: led by an in-form Pavel Horváth, they are now on seven points after a 2:1 home win over Bohemians 1905 on Sunday. One point behind Plzeň are Slovácko, who beat Hradec Králové 2:1. And one point behind them in third place are Baník Ostrava, who put three goals past Brno without reply. Champions Sparta Prague, meanwhile, are experiencing a rather poor start to the season. They have lost two of their first three games, with their latest defeat, 1:0 to České Budějovice, again showing how much they rely on defender Tomáš Řepka. Sparta’s captain is currently suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing this Thursday for evidently spitting at an opponent.
