Sports News

In Sports News: Vaclav Chalupa's long reign as the number one Czech rower comes to an end, as he symbolically hands his oar to youngster Ondrej Synek; world famous Czech football goalkeeper Petr Cech plays host to Chelsea colleagues in the centre of Prague, while Milan Baros welcomes Liverpool's Dudek to his home village; tennis player Klara Koukalova wins her first title; and Czech ice hockey captain David Vyborny leaves Sparta Prague, saying some teammates resent his World Championships success.

Vaclav Chalupa's reign as dominant force in Czech rowing comes to an end

After many years as Czech number one Vaclav Chalupa has been dethroned. Chalupa, who is 37 and has dominated Czech rowing for a decade and a half, will not represent the Czech Republic at the sport's World Championships later this year. His place has been taken by 22-year-old Ondrej Synek, who beat him in a World Cup race in Munich on Sunday; Synek came third in the men's single skull, Chalupa fifth. After the race the older rower symbolically handed his oar to Synek, and shared these thoughts with reporters.

"After the first 500 metres or so I felt in my bones that the leaders were pulling away from me, and that I couldn't keep up with them. I just wasn't at my best form. But at the same time I don't think it was such an undignified exit from the rowing scene."

Petr Cech and Chelsea friends play in centre of Prague

Petr Cech and John Terry, photo: CTK

You don't often see world famous footballers playing in the centre of Prague, so it was no surprise then that thousands of fans turned out for an event titled "Petr Cech and Friends", which took place on the city's Namesti Republiky on Saturday. The Chelsea goalkeeper was due to appear with several of his team-mates, but in the end two stars - Frank Lampard and Eidur Gudjohnsen - cried off. That left "only" Cech, John Terry and Jiri Jarosik to entertain the fans, but the exhibition event did serve to raise Chelsea's profile in the Czech Republic - organisers said they sold a lot of the megaclub's merchandise.

Baros welcomes Liverpool colleague Dudek to home village

Milan Baros at the opening of a new stadium in Vigantice, photo: CTK

On Sunday it was Liverpool striker Milan Baros who was entertaining local fans, when he appeared at the opening of a new stadium in his home village of Vigantice in north Moravia (population 900). He was joined by Liverpool's Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who is a good friend of Baros's.

The exhibition match came a few days after the striker said he was staying at Liverpool, where he has one year left on his contract. But if he does stay with the Champions League winners, Baros can probably expect to spend a lot of time on the substitutes' bench: the 23-year-old is not in favour with the club's manager.

Koukalova overcomes fellow Czech Safarova to win first WTA title

Klara Koukalova, photo: CTK

Klara Koukalova has won the first all-Czech final on the WTA tour since 1994, beating Lucie Safarova 3-6 6-2 6-2 in the final of tennis's Ordina Open in Holland. It was Koukalova's first title; she said winning it was a huge relief after losing five finals in her career. By coincidence the Ordina Open is owned by a Czech, former Wimbledon winner Jana Novotna.

Vyborny leaves Sparta, saying teammates resent international success

Czech ice hockey captain David Vyborny is leaving Sparta Prague, where he says some team-mates were malicious and spiteful after he led the national team to victory in the World Championships in May. The winger has signed a one-year contract with Swiss club Zurich, with a release clause if the NHL resumes next season. Vyborny apparently chose Zurich because it's near Kloten, where his relative and former team-mate Jaroslav Hlinka plays hockey.