Karolína Plíšková overcame Lara Arruabarrena in straight sets to ensure the Czech Republic's Fed Cup World Group tie with Spain ended level after the first day's play at the Ostravar Arena in Ostrava.

contests to be held today finished all square at one apiece, with the United States due to take on Germany

first International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard Cross World Cup title of the season in Feldberg in Germany

Switzerland's Alex Fiva raced to his third International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Cross World Cup win of the season at Idre in Sweden. 

standings.Naeslund's success means she has cut the gap, with the Swede now second on 550.Heidi Zacher of Germany

Japan's women's ice hockey team set up a winner-takes-all clash with Germany at their home qualification

past France 4-1 today.Only the winners of the round-robin group will book their Olympic place with Germany

for France who then pressed for equaliser and squandered several good chances.Japan will need to beat Germany

Germany's Benedikt Doll secured his first individual International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Championships gold medal in thrilling fashion as he won today's 10 kilometres sprint race in Hochfilzen.

My mind wanted to go fast, but my legs were spent," he said.Doll's victory gave Germany their third gold

Slovenia's defending overall champion Peter Prevc topped an International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup podium for the first time this season but had to share the first step with Poland's Maciej Kot in Sapporo.

of Austria after her efforts of 90m and 94.5m gave her a points tally of 251.1.Katharina Althaus of Germany

Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), insists he is ready to impose the strictest punishments - including the suspension of the national federation - if the current charges that Russian athletes have been benefiting from a state-run doping scheme are conclusively proven.

World Championships, which run from tomorrow until February 26, from Sochi in Russia to Königssee in Germany

At least one thing is easy right now for Ivo Ferriani, President of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) – Königssee.

South Korea, Germany and Austria joined Latvia and athletes in Britain and United States in calling for

Global attention when an International Federation (IF) holds its World Championships is supposed to focus on the sporting action.

Federation, who stripped Sochi of their 2017 World Championships and quickly handed it over to Königssee in Germany

Czech Republic will begin their bid for a fourth Fed Cup title in a row tomorrow without star player Petra Kvitova.

Switzerland.Belarus will host The Netherlands at Chizhovka-Arena in Minsk, while United States will entertain Germany

Germany maintained their 100 per cent record at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Combined

sharing the victories between them.Despite all three of the big names opting to skip Sapporo to rest, Germany

officials have visited the headquarters of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in Bonn in Germany

Italian officials have reaffirmed their commitment to staging the 2022 Ryder Cup after a funding crisis plunged their hosting of the tournament into doubt.

month.Italy was awarded the 2022 Ryder Cup in December 2015.The country beat off competition from Austria, Germany

The International Skating Union (ISU) has announced the competition schedule for the 2017 to 2018 Speed Skating World Cup.

Olympics.They will also serve as quota events for the European Speed Skating Championships.Skaters will head to Germany

Olympic gold medallists Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt of Brazil bounced back from a shock defeat to secure their place in the round of 16 with victory over Chilean pair Marco and Esteban Grimalt at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Tour event in Fort Lauderdale.

in the last 16 tomorrow.Cerutti and Schmidt had earlier beaten Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany

Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Artem Yarzutkin of Russia 21-19, 21-15.Markus Bockermann and Lars Fluggen of Germany