Czech footballers get off to a winning start at the European Under-21 Championships; Czech MotoGP rookie Karel Abraham finishes seventh in the British Grand Prix; the national handball team has successfully qualified for the European Championship in Serbia in 2012; Pro MTB rider Spěšný notches up first season win.
Football: Czechs win opener at European U-21 Championship
Bořek Dočkal, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic’s football team got off to a winning start in the European U-21 Championships in Denmark, downing opponent Ukraine on Sunday by a score of 2:1. Both Czech goals came from midfielder and team captain Bořek Dočkal early in the second half to give the Czechs the advantage. Ukraine came back late in the game with a goal from substitute Biliy who shot past Vaclík in the 88th minute. But the Czech Republic was able to hold on for the remainder of the game for the win and leads Group B after Spain and England tied. The Czechs will face Spain on Wednesday and England on Sunday. The two teams to finish at the top of the group will advance to the elimination round.
One interesting item from the game noted by the Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes: Dočkal had a bet with his father that he would score two; with the promise kept, his father reportedly now has to quit smoking cigars.
MotoGP: Abraham finishes seventh in British Grand Prix
Karel Abraham (right), photo: CTK
Czech MotoGP rookie Karel Abraham finished seventh in the British Grand Prix, a day after posting his best-ever qualifying performance in his career. Despite getting off to a poor start and being passed by five riders, the racer was able to come back, tying for his best finish earlier this year in Spain. Abraham, who races for Cardion AB Motoracing, is in tenth spot in the overall MotoGP standings.
Czech handballers qualify for next year’s European Championship in Serbia
Czech Republic - Netherlands, photo: CTK
The Czech Republic’s men’s handball team has successfully completed qualification for next year’s European Championship in Serbia. In the final match the team beat the Netherlands 38:26. Despite some flaws in play, members (some of whom notched up some 65 games over the season) were happy with the result. Key in the win was a surge in the first half when the team jumped to a difficult to assail 11:1 lead. The Czech team’s Slovak coach, Martin Lipták, is now hoping for a favorable group draw in the finals, confident that with a little luck next year (and say only one favourite in their group) the Czech squad could do well.
Mountain biker Spěšný clinched first season triumph
Professional mountain biker Milan Spěšný, who races for S&H Superior MTB, clinched his first cross country race title of the season at the weekend in front of a home crowd in the Plzeň area. The race was run at the Homolka forest park. The 34-year-old beat favourite Škarnitzl for top spot. Next week the rider will compete in Pec pod Sněžkou on the Czech circuit, before heading to the United States and Canada for two World Cup events.
