Sports News

In Sports News: Jakub Janda becomes only the second Czech to win the Four Hills ski jumping tournament, though he shares first place with his biggest rival; cross country skier Lukas Bauer finishes second for the second weekend in a row; teenage tennis player Lucie Safarova wins the third WTA title of her career in Australia's Gold Coast; and ice hockey star Jaromir Jagr maintains his lead in the NHL players' points table.

Janda wins famous victory in Four Hills, shares spoils with biggest rival

Jakub Janda, photo: CTK

Jakub Janda has cemented his position as one of the biggest new stars of Czech sport with first place in the prestigious Four Hills ski jumping tournament; it takes place at two venues in Germany and two in Austria and culminated on Friday. He became only the second Czech ever to win the competition: the first was Jiri Raska in 1971. Janda had to share first place with his biggest rival, Janne Ahonen of Finland, when the two finished equal on points, the first time that's ever happened in the history of the competition. But Jakub Janda wasn't complaining afterwards:

"Up to the very last moment I was saying that it was a great spectacle for the fans, because there was really nothing in it. I never expected it would turn out this way, but it's fantastic. When it ended I saw that I was first, but then I realised Ahonen was too."

Cross country skier Bauer second again

Lukas Bauer, photo: CTK

Cross country skier Lukas Bauer finished in second place - a mere half a second behind the winner - in the 15 km classic in Estonia's Otepaa on Saturday. A week ago Bauer achieved the same result in the 15 km free in the Czech resort of Nove Mesto.

Teenager Safarova wins third WTA tournament of career

Lucie Safarova, photo: CTK

From the slopes of Europe to the sunshine of Australia's Gold Coast now, where Czech tennis player Lucie Safarova on Sunday won the third WTA title of her career. Safarova, who is 18, beat Italian fourth seed Flavia Pennetta 6-3 6-4 to take the crown. She had this to say on the phone from Down Under:

"I'm glad I managed to win in the end. It may have looked like a smooth victory but we really fought every game. I managed to break her serve in both sets...so maybe it looked easy but it was quite a hard game."

Lucie Safarova's Czech boyfriend - another rising tennis star, Tomas Berdych - was knocked out in the semi-finals of the Adelaide International.

Jagr maintains points lead, Elias set to miss Turin unless another player drops out

Jaromir Jagr, photo: CTK

Czech ice hockey star Jaromir Jagr maintained his lead in the NHL's players' points table with two goals in the New York Rangers 4:0 defeat of Florida on Saturday. Meanwhile, another Czech star Patrik Elias has shown phenomenal form since his recent comeback from illness. But Czech national coach Alois Hadamczik says the only way Elias can make the squad for the upcoming Winter Olympics is if another player drops out.