Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Czech pole vault record holder Kateřina Baďurová leaves it late to qualify for the Olympics; Barbora Špotáková is looking good ahead of Beijing after a Grand Prix win in Athens; young Czech cyclist Roman Kreuziger remains with the leading pack in the Tour de France – and third overall in the under 25 category; and a knee injury does for Tomáš Berdych in the final of tennis’s Swedish Open.

Baďurová makes Czech team for Beijing at first meet since surgery

Pole vaulter Kateřina Baďurová has succeeded in qualifying for the Olympics in Beijing, less than a month before they get underway. Baďurová, the Czech record holder and a silver medalist at last year’s World Championships, made the Czech team with a jump of 435 cm in Plzeň on Sunday at her first meet since undergoing knee surgery at the start of the year. She actually reached what is called the B Limit, but that was enough to win a ticket to Beijing after the pole vaulter already in the frame pulled out due to pregnancy. Kateřina Baďurová:

“It was my third jump and you could see I was kind of all over the place. I didn’t really see either my run or the pole properly. But I’m very glad it worked out. Now I have a month in front of me to work on my technique, to work hard and to try to make my levels a bit more consistent.”

Špotáková takes gold at Athens Grand Prix meet

Barbora Špotáková, photo: CTK

The world javelin champion Barbora Špotáková is looking good ahead of the Olympics. She came first in a Grand Prix meeting in Athens on Sunday with a throw of 63.70 m.

Czech cyclist Kreuziger doing well so far at Tour de France

Photo: CTK

Roman Kreuziger has been doing well so far at his first Tour de France. The 22-year-old Czech cyclist was in 18th place overall on Sunday evening after the ninth stage, in the Pyrenees. What’s more, he was in third place among cyclists under 25, and said he would work flat out for a chance to wear even once the white jersey for leader in that category.

Berdych’s hopes of Swedish title dashed by knee injury

Tomáš Berdych, photo: Christian Mesiano, CC 2.0 license

Tomáš Berdych was beaten by Spain’s Tommy Robredo in the final of tennis’s Swedish Open on Sunday. Things were evenly matched at 3-3 in the first set when the Czech player sustained a knee injury that required him to leave the court for treatment. Berdych subsequently returned to action but was easily dispatched by Robredo, who won 6-4 6-1.

Under 19s face England in European Championship, but who will be managing senior team at Wembley next month?

The Czech Republic’s Under 19s take on England’s young footballers in their first game at the Under 19s European Championship in the north Bohemian town of Jablonec on Monday evening. The Czech senior team play England in a friendly at Wembley next month. Who will be managing them should be known later this week, with the most likely successor to Karel Bruckner said to be Josef Chovanec – the man Bruckner himself succeeded in 2002.