Sports News

After 16 years without a Czech medal in individual competition, two Czech biathlonists made it to the podium at the sport's World Championships in Siberia on Saturday. The Czechs took only one medal at the European Indoor Atheltics Championships in Birmingham, when Roman Sebrle scored a disappointing bronze. The line-ups for the ice hockey Extraliga play-offs have been decided, and in football Sparta stay in front with a win over Stare Mesto.

Double success for Czech Republic in biathlon after long medal famine

Katerina Holubcova, photo: CTK

After 16 years without a Czech medal in individual competition, two Czech biathlonists made it to the podium at the sport's World Championships in Siberia on Saturday. Shooting skier Zdenek Vitek broke the long Czech medals duck with a bronze in the 10 kilometre sprint, while Katerina Holubcova also finished in third place, in the 7.5 kilometre. Holubcova was unwell before the competition, and was pleasantly surprised by her success.

"As you can hear from my voice, I haven't completely recovered from the flu yet. It's hard for me to comment on my success...I'm still a little shocked and it hasn't quite sunk in yet. But it happens sometimes that when things go wrong, when you aren't feeling too well, good luck can come your way, as happened in my case."

Sebrle's bronze at European Indoor Athletics Championships only Czech medal

Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK

The two biathlonists were not the only Czechs to take bronze at the weekend: athlete Roman Sebrle came third in the septathlon at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham, where he was the only Czech to win a medal. Sebrle's bronze can hardly be regarded as a success however, given that the 28-year-old took the gold in the same competition last year. Fellow Czech Tomas Dvorak, who has been suffering with various injuries in the last couple of years, came fifth in the event.

Success for cross-country skier Bauer after poor World Championships

Czech cross-country skier Lukas Bauer took the silver in a World Cup 15 kilometre free race at Lahti, Finland on Sunday. Bauer's success comes just two week's after his poor showing at the cross-country skiing World Championships.

Line-up for Extraliga play-off semis settled

The line-up for the Czech ice hockey Extraliga play-off semi-finals has been settled: Pardubice saw off Znojmo in the quarter finals and will face Trinec, who overcame Vitkovice. In the other semi-final, Prague hockey fans will be excited at the prospect of a Slavia-Sparta series.

Sparta stay two points ahead in football league

Jan Palinek, Libor Sionko, photo: CTK

Sparta Prague continue to lead the league table, after a Libor Sionko strike ensured them a 1:0 away win at Stare Mesto on Sunday. That result came a day after Slavia had briefly gone ahead following a 3:1 home win over Teplice.

Teplice's key defender Tomas Hunal could soon be signed by Germany's Hertha Berlin, according to press reports. A police investigation into allegations that Hunal was bribed to throw an important game last season was shelved recently.

Good weekend for Czech "legionnaires"

It was a good weekend for Czech footballers abroad, commonly referred to here as "legionnaires". National team captain Pavel Nedved scored twice for Juventus, midfielder Jiri Jarosik got two on his league debut for CSKA Moscow, and Vratislav Lokvence scored one for Kaiserslautern.