In Sports News: after a top-flight career lasting over two decades, the great Czech rower Václav Chalupa goes out in style; the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Petr Sýkora presents ice hockey’s Stanley Cup to fans in Plzeň; the Czech soccer squad gather ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia; and three months after being photographed buying drugs, Roman Bednář is back – and scoring again – for West Brom.
Václav Chalupa retires after silver at rowing worlds in Poznan
Jakub Makovička, Oldřich Hejdušek, Václav Chalupa (left to right), photo: CTK
The great Czech rower Václav Chalupa has ended his career on a high. Alongside Jakub Makovička and cox Oldřich Hejdušek, he took silver at the World Rowing Championships in Poland’s Poznan on Sunday. Chalupa, who is 41 and won his first international medal a full two decades ago, made Poznan his farewell regatta.
“I’m firmly convinced and have my mind made up that it was the final race of my international career. I’m very happy that things turned out as they did – I think it was one race I shouldn’t have messed up!”
Václav Chalupa is a legend of international rowing. He took part in six Olympics in a row, winning one medal – silver at the 1992 games in Barcelona.
Sýkora says presenting Stanley Cup to home fans for second time means more
Petr Sýkora, photo: CTK
Ice hockey fans in Plzeň got a rare chance to see the Stanley Cup up close on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Petr Sýkora took his turn to present the NHL’s top prize in his hometown. The forward had previously brought the Stanley Cup to Plzeň in the year 2000, when he won it with New Jersey.
“I have to say I’m enjoying it a lot more this time, because in those days I was still a young guy who thought he’d win it every year. But the reality is a bit different. As my career draws to a close I wanted to win it again…winning it again has been the fulfillment of a dream.”
Czech footballers gather ahead of crucial game in Bratislava
Jan Koller, photo: CTK
The Czech football squad gathered in Prague on Monday ahead of their most important game for some time, a World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia that they simply must win if they are to maintain any hope of reaching South Africa next year. The good news is that the country’s all-time record goal scorer Jan Koller has returned, after retiring from international soccer last year. The bad news is that midfielder Jan Polák is out after tearing a cruciate ligament at the weekend. What’s more, it is not at all clear whether Tomáš Rosický will be fit enough to play for 90 minutes, or at all, in Saturday’s game in Bratislava. The Czechs also play San Marino, in Uherské Hradiště on Wednesday week.
Roman Bednář returns after career-threatening drug scandal
Roman Bednář, photo: CTK
A few months ago the future of West Bromwich Albion striker Roman Bednář was in doubt, after he was photographed buying drugs by a British tabloid newspaper. In the end, however, no charges were pressed and the Czech striker ended up with a three-month retroactive ban. That served, Bednář was back in action for the English Championship club on Saturday, scoring twice in a 2:2 draw with Sheffield United.
