CZE - Veterans shown the door as Blazek trims roster

PRAGUE (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - Michala Hartigova's hopes of playing at a third straight Olympics have been dashed.

The 28-year-old center, who competed in both Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), was among four players cut by coach Lubor Blazek as the national team boss reduced the national squad to 14 with the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women tipping off in less than two weeks.

Hartigova played in the first three games of last summer's EuroBasket Women but did not feature any more.

Three other veterans have been deemed surplus to requirements.

Michaela Uhrova (30 years old), Katerina Krizova (32) and Zora Skrabalova (30) have also been told they will not travel to Ankara for the OQT.

Skrabalova came off the bench last year in six games and averaged 2.8 points under Blazek at the EuroBasket Women.

The Czech Republic squad now has Hana Horakova, Katerina Bartonova, Lenka Bartakova, Katerina Elhotova, Tereza Peckova, Jana Vesela, Eva Viteckova, Katerina Zohnova, Michaela Zrustova, Ilona Burgrova, Alena Hanusova, Petra Kulichova, Petra Reisingerova and Kamila Stepanova.

The Czechs made it to the 2004 Olympics after reaching the Final of the EuroBasket Women 2003 in Greece, and they booked a spot in the Beijing Games with a strong showing at the OQT in Madrid.

Jan Bobrovsky was the coach of both of those teams.

To reach the London Games with Blazek, who steered the Czechs to a silver medal when the country hosted the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women, the national team has to claim one of five qualifying spots at the OQT in Ankara, Turkey.

The Czechs must beat New Zealand or Argentina in Group B of the OQT to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

A victory then against hosts Turkey, Puerto Rico or Japan would clinch a spot in London.

Should they lose the Quarter-Final, they would still have a chance to grab the fifth and last qualifying spot at the OQT.

FIBA