Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková wins a third 5000 m world title in Vancouver, despite health problems and a collision with a competitor; Plzeň advance to the semi-finals in the ice hockey Extraliga playoffs after beating Pardubice in the longest game in the competition’s history; Slavia take another step towards retaining the Czech football league title; and Sparta offer to refund fans if they fail to score.

Sáblíková becomes 5000 m world champion for third time in row

Martina Sáblíková, photo: CTK

The Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková crowned a wonderful season with gold in the 5000 m at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Canada on Saturday. Despite having a fever, Sáblíková had risked taking part in the 3000 m two days previously, a risk rewarded with a silver medal. On top of her illness, a Japanese competitor crashed into the 21-year-old shortly before the 5000 m, though neither problem prevented Martina Sáblíková taking the world title for the third time in a row.

“I have to say I no longer have a temperature, so everything went fine. The fact I have a cold didn’t influence the race at all and I could compete as I would normally…I was waiting at the start when Hozumi slapped palms with her trainer and didn’t notice I was in the lane and crashed into me. So my back hurts a bit but otherwise it’s OK – luckily my legs weren’t hurt so I could race as usual.”

The venue for Sáblíková’s latest success, the Richmond Olympic Oval in Vancouver, will host the speed skating at next year’s Winter Olympics, so hopefully we’ll be reporting on an even greater achievement from the Czech 11 months from now.

Plzeň reach playoffs semi-finals after beating Pardubice in longest Extraliga game ever

Plzeň - Pardubice, photo: CTK

The longest game ever played in the history of the Czech ice hockey Extraliga took place on Sunday, when Plzeň scored the winning goal over Pardubice on 86:07 in the seventh and final game of their playoffs quarter-final. Elsewhere, Slavia Prague and Vítkovice are tied at 3:3 with the deciding game in that quarter-final set for Monday evening, after the recording of this programme. Sparta Prague and Karlovy Vary are already into the semi-finals.

Slavia edge closer to league title after beating Jablonec away

Jablonec - Slavia, photo: CTK

It was another weekend, another step closer to retaining the Czech football league title for Slavia Prague, who beat an in-form Jablonec 2:1 in north Bohemia. Slavia’s winner on 87 minutes was scored by 19-year-old substitute Tomáš Peckhart, a former youth player at the club who is now on loan from England’s Tottenham Hotspur. Sparta Prague can cut Slavia’s lead to 10 points if they beat Brno in the capital on Monday evening. Sparta have taken the unusual step of promising to give fans their money back if they fail to score. That said, falling further behind Slavia would probably be more painful for the country’s richest club.