Partizánske mourns death of 10-year-old hockey goalkeeper Zarka Šlebodová

The town of Partizánske is mourning the sudden death of Zarka Šlebodová, a talented 10-year-old hockey goalkeeper from the HK Iskra Partizánske club. The young athlete passed away unexpectedly during the night between Saturday and Sunday.

A family acquaintance suggested the cause may have been heart failure. Zarka was deeply dedicated to hockey, having started playing at age three and even adjusting her school activities to prioritize training.

Her school, Radovan Kaufman Primary School, a sports-focused institution, has flown a black flag in her honor. School director Benjamín Horváth confirmed that Zarka had recently transferred to the school and was part of a specialized hockey class. To support the students affected by the loss, the school has arranged for crisis intervention specialists from the local Counseling and Prevention Center to provide professional assistance.