Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Bauer takes silver in last ever cross country World Championships; Jágr off to bright start at Florida; Třínec come first in Extraliga regular season; Šafářová wins sixth career title in Doha; Plzeň extend league lead after Sparta held by Ostrava.

Bauer (37) takes silver in final World Championship

Lukáš Bauer, photo: CTK

Despite being the most successful Czech cross country skier ever in terms of World Championships and Olympic medals, Lukáš Bauer has never taken a major title. It was therefore something of the story of his career when the 37-year-old came second in the 50-kilometre classic in his last ever World Championships in Sweden’s Falun on Sunday.

Nevertheless, the modest Bauer told Czech Radio that his latest medal – and a previous World Championships silver in the 15-kilometre classic – meant a lot to him.

Lukáš Bauer, photo: CTK

“I’m really happy. But I didn’t jump for joy in Liberec in 2009 either. I’m not the type to appear on town squares shouting about what a great guy I am… Each of my World Championships medals has its own story. This one is great. And it wouldn’t have taken much for things to have ended as well as they did for Katka at the Olympics.”

The soon-to-retire Bauer was referring to Kateřina Neumannová, who took her first Olympic gold in her final race in the competition in Turin in 2006.

Jágr off to bright start at Florida

Jaromír Jágr, photo: CTK

While some eyebrows were raised at Jaromír Jágr’s move from the New Jersey Devils to the relatively obscure Florida Panthers, the Czech star has got off to a bright start at his new club. In his second game for Florida on Sunday Jágr notched up one goal and one assist in a 4:3 victory over Tampa Bay, climbing to joint fifth in the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring table with 717.

Třínec come first in Extraliga regular season

The regular season in the Czech Extraliga has come to an end with Třínec coming first on 107 points, just two ahead of Litvínov, who made a late surge. Meanwhile Mladá Boleslav reached the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history, former top eight regulars Liberec failed to make the cut for the third time in succession, and Slavia Prague had a nightmare, experiencing a plethora of problems and finishing bottom.

Šafářová wins career sixth title in Doha

Lucie Šafářová, photo: CTK

Lucie Šafářová has won the sixth WTA title of her career after overcoming Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Qatar Open in Doha on Saturday. That result sees Šafářová climb to 11th in the world rankings. Indeed with Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová just reaching 20th there are now – alongside Petra Kvitova and Karolína Plíšková – no fewer than four Czechs in the women’s top 20 at present.

Plzeň extend lead after Sparta drop points in Ostrava

Viktoria Plzeň are now three points clear at the top of Czech soccer’s first division table after a 3:2 away win over Hradec Králové on Sunday. The leaders took the chance to extend their lead after second-placed Sparta Prague had on Saturday drawn 1:1 away with Baník Ostrava, who equalized through Milan Baroš.