Europe's new football champions, Cricket picks up again and it's Grand Slam time

00:00:04 Speaker 1: Yeah. 00:00:05 Speaker 1: Mhm. 00:00:06 Speaker 1: Welcome 00:00:07 Speaker 2: to Sports Weekly with Aya's 00:00:09 Speaker 1: Memon 00:00:12 Speaker 1: Mhm. 00:00:12 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to Sports Weekly. I'm your host. I asked me and this week's program, we've got a heck of a lot of stories and some really interesting ones. Also controversial ones, also some bizarre ones. And I must talk about the bizarre one. First, first it's about Sushil Kumar, the most celebrated wrestler from India who was on the run from the cops on a murder charge has finally been arrested. It took the police three weeks to locate him in. Meanwhile, Social Kumar was going from one state to another in North India, from Haryana to U. P. To Delhi and finally he was nap. But this is a story that is going to 00:00:53 Speaker 1: reverberate for a long time to come. I think we're going to talk also about cricket. There's a lot of cricket in this week's edition, there's women's cricket, there's uh international cricket that is happening. And also we're heading into the World test championship in june that's between India and new Zealand both the teams and the final. We look at what the prospects are for both teams 00:01:14 Speaker 1: and then there's, I've got Mr fantastic, I'm going to draw into the show very soon after that, we'll be joined by Samuel Aranda, we're going to talk about Formula One, about football, about tennis, remember we've got the french open coming up all in all, a lot of stories happening in the world of sport and thank God for that with otherwise we're just also suppressed by just looking and reading and trying to make sense of what's happening in this 00:01:39 Speaker 1: pandemic driven world. But let me first start with the big story this week before I get in. Mr Fantastic. And that's to do with social Kamala, the wrestler. As I mentioned, he's the most celebrated wrestler we've had, he's won olympic medals twice. In fact, I was there in London in 2012 when he won the silver medal before that in Beijing also, he had won the medal. So social Kumar has been the toast of the country and then you suddenly find on social media, I first got to know about social Kumar being alleged to have got involved in a murder case 00:02:10 Speaker 1: and then as the story kind of built up the allegations became stronger, the story got even more 00:02:17 Speaker 1: diabolically if I might put it that way. And then the parents that I can draw with social Kumar case was with O. J. Simpson way back when maybe 2.5 decades ago in the U. S. And then of course in 2015 more closer to our time, Oscar Pistorius, the South African athlete who was also involved in a murder rap 00:02:36 Speaker 1: in his own house, that was 00:02:37 Speaker 1: O. J. Simpson also in a murder rap in his own home, social Kumar in the Nacala which is virtually like his home. So the 38 year old double olympic medalist, the reason for getting involved in such a sinister case is something 00:02:51 Speaker 1: that boggles my mind still. I mean you know the person who got killed in this episode was Sager Juncker who was also a wrestler from the charleston South Academy, which is uh social cameras base and uh Southern uncle was somebody who idolized, looked up to social camara. Somehow they had a fallout. There's, there's some story about a flat 00:03:11 Speaker 1: which belonged to social camara and these guys were staying there tanker and some other people, they were refusing to vacate the flat and so on. And it's just so bizarre to my mind of trying to understand what the hell, you know, how could somebody like a social Kumar who had the world at his feet, so to speak, who was probably a few months back preparing to go to the Tokyo olympics. It was uncertain whether he would go, but he was in line 00:03:35 Speaker 1: uh suddenly sucked into a murder rap criminal. I mean this is not something you associate with people from the sporting arena, so to speak, especially such celebrate people. So social tomorrow I'm afraid. You know, he is now in police custody, there's no expertise with which one can say what exactly has happened and where this will lead to. But 00:03:57 Speaker 1: clearly this is a big blow to his personal prestige, once the cases on below what he has to say. But also it's left the world of sports in India, certainly in a state of shock, but swiftly and quickly let me invite. Mr Fantastic, my co host at most times. He's been straining at the leash to get in and why not? He's got so many questions to be asking me. He mentioned to me the other day 00:04:23 Speaker 1: when we were discussing what we could be talking about this week and he said, you know, where do I start in Redway? And so mr. Fantastic. You can start wherever you want. But let's get cracking on some really interesting stuff. 00:04:35 Speaker 2: Thanks as I want to get started in hit on cricket. Uh First the I. P. L. Is back in focus and well it's not really a rumor anymore but the B. C. C. I. Has stated openly that they want to complete this tournament. 00:04:48 Speaker 2: But the question is when does it happen? And where and these two are obviously very closely linked. So where do you think it's likely to be the U. A. Or the U. K. You tell me? 00:04:59 Speaker 1: Million dollar question? Mr. Fantastic. Will the I. P. L. Be played in England or in the USA will be played in England in the month of august between the world has Championship final which ends in the last week of june and then the indians test series against England begins only in august august 4th. The first test might begin. So there's a good seven weeks in between. Will 00:05:20 Speaker 1: the I. P. L. B. Kind of slipped in there? Will it be accommodated? There are will it take place after the five test series ends which is around the 10th or 12th I think of september, so same middle mid september. And then remember there is the world T 20 00:05:36 Speaker 1: begins in India are scheduled to begin in India on october 18. So again, there's a 56 week window available there for the people to be squeezed in and that is being mentioned. That tournament or the completion of the second half of the tournament will take place in the it will also serve as a dress rehearsal as a build up to the world T 20 now I think look, both things are possible, 00:05:58 Speaker 1: but I think the two taking place on the completion of the tournament taking place in England 00:06:03 Speaker 1: is a bit of a problem because as soon as the World Chess Championship ends and before the test series against India begins, you know England, there's the 100 which is England's version of or T 20 tournament, much like the I. P. L. And the big bash is the inaugural season. I don't think that you know, the english authorities are going to surrender that. I mean if you have to surrender it, there'll be a massive 00:06:28 Speaker 1: quid pro quo basis. There will have to give and I don't think that's gonna work out. I mean it's not just about quid pro quo. I think there's a lot of pride 00:06:35 Speaker 1: for the cricket administration in England, which they will have to surrender, which I don't think they will remember. They also beholden to their counties. So to fit in that appeal, they have to juggle around the dates of the India England test series testing. These tickets have already been put on sale. 00:06:49 Speaker 1: Counties are already recording Brisk sales because it was a big draw in England, as you know, in fact everywhere. So there are too many hardships in the world and the offers a good opportunity for all kinds of players from all over the world to come. And we had a successful tournament there in 2020, the Pakistan Super League, 00:07:07 Speaker 1: the remaining part is going to be held there. So, all things considered the seems a better prospect to finish the tournament. 00:07:14 Speaker 1: The reason, of course, by the tournament needs to be finished and we're halfway through the season is because it's the tournament is not completed. The BCC s chance to lose a whopping 2500 crawl. Yes, you heard it right? 2500 crores. Obviously they don't want to lose that kind of money 00:07:32 Speaker 1: and I think also players want to play that because there's so much 00:07:36 Speaker 1: attention, fame money, they all get from the people. Why wouldn't they want to play? So, I think there will be, I think agreement, consensus amongst the players amongst the cricket boards. England will be happy that there's no encroachment on their domestic season. Itineraries, India will of course be happy that finally the appeal is completed. So if something can be worked out where everybody is happy, what could be better 00:07:56 Speaker 2: after the court saga. Last week, indian women's cricket is back in focus and this time it's about pending payments for last year's World Cup. 00:08:03 Speaker 2: And also the fact that central contracts have been announced. Which is good but there's a few notable emissions in there. I mean what's going on with women's cricket? 00:08:11 Speaker 1: Right? So that's a that's a very 00:08:13 Speaker 2: pertinent issue 00:08:14 Speaker 1: you raised. Mr fantastic about women's cricket and indian women's cricket because after finishing 00:08:20 Speaker 1: In the final or losing in the final last year in the World Cup T20 World Cup in March 2020, I was there for that match and 00:08:27 Speaker 1: it was a terrific tournament and we had a packed house in the M. C. G. Because of the indian girls, I might add of course the Australian team was also there, but you know, to get 80,000 odd people for women's cricket final. That you know, absolutely fantastic. And remember this is around the time that the pandemic was beginning to rear its ugly head uh in Australia, it wasn't declared a pandemic till then. 00:08:49 Speaker 1: But you know, a lot 00:08:51 Speaker 2: of people are traveled 00:08:52 Speaker 1: from I know from India and I was one of them. The 00:08:55 Speaker 2: point I'm trying to make is 00:08:56 Speaker 1: women's cricket in India and indian women's team had been making waves internationally. Uh you know, they've done extremely well. So you would expect that there will be a lot more 00:09:08 Speaker 1: respect and time given to women's cricket by the indian cricket authorities. In one of the past programs, 00:09:14 Speaker 1: we've had this conversation that charlotte was our guest then and we discussed how the BCC actually has abdicated their responsibility and this is just another example which has been highlighted that the women's team is yet to receive the prize money for the 2020 World Cup. Now remember that's about a good Lord. About 14 months back and this is an I. C. C. Tournament. So within a couple of weeks, maybe a month 00:09:38 Speaker 1: the I. C. C. Would have sent the money to the respective cricket boards, to the Australian cricket board for the winning team, to the business here, for the runner up team. And then you would expect that within maybe another four weeks that's two months and all the money would have reached the players. 00:09:55 Speaker 1: But 14 months later it's not yet reached the players. Now that's that's shocking. It shows that there is a administrative lethargy, not just lethargy. I would think that's apathy that they take so long to process something that should not have taken. 00:10:12 Speaker 1: I think even 10 minutes once the peoples come to you. And 00:10:16 Speaker 1: one of the stories which are red and this is important is, you know, in fact, the story was broken in the Daily Telegraph, London's Daily Telegraph. This story that in the women's team hasn't received its money has yet. And one of the things that is mentioned there is that there is no affiliation to the cricketers association internationally is very weak in indian cricket. In fact, even in the men's section, 00:10:36 Speaker 1: that holds too, not just in the women's section and therefore there is no platform or front which can fight for you. That's really becoming an issue. That's something to be taken care of now or what I hear is that the BCC says yes, they will disperse the money 00:10:51 Speaker 1: swiftly quickly. I wonder why they have to get a rap on the knuckles, from the players, from the media, from some other country before they move into action. But there it is, I think this issue should be shorted out. The other issue, of course, the women's contract central contracts have been announced, Grade A Grade B, grade C, much like the men's team. But look at the difference in the value of the contract women's cricket grade A 50 lack where its seventh role for the indian team, men's team in Grade B, it's 00:11:19 Speaker 1: 30 lack, it's three crore and then in the women's great, see it's 10, like while it's one clove in men's crickets, which shows the disparity now, you know, there are pros and cons the arguments are there that where does the business here make more money from from men's cricket, of women's cricket and so on. The argument goes on and on. You know, but sometimes I think one has to these disingenuous arguments, you have to kind of snuff out. So let me give you an argument which may, I mean, you know, if it makes any sense is how do I see it? For instance, you've got new state cricket association's coming and say are some cricket association or you know, darkened or one of these which have come up lately 00:12:00 Speaker 1: and then there is Mumbai cricket association molester cricket association. So as to cricket association, 00:12:05 Speaker 1: when the disbursement of the money takes place from the BCC for these, it's not a chalk and cheese difference, you know, it's not the Mumbai cricket association will get 100 Kroll and darken Cricket association will get five or 10 crore. It doesn't happen like that. The job of the BCC is to ensure apart from transparencies, as much clarity as possible. So, I think that's something 00:12:25 Speaker 1: that needs to be addressed by women's cricket is concerned. The other issue you raise about if the base is being committed, though, she's been picked for all three formats for India's to to England, I think that can be an anomaly. So just to give an example, I'm not exactly sure what the status was, but suppose you have a guy like a shark attack or or or human girls who were in Australia actually ended up playing all three formats. Now, these are anomaly. These things can happen. I hope it's not deliberate, but if it's an anomaly, it should be addressed quickly and things should move on. 00:12:55 Speaker 2: Now. Here's a curious question I have, how many national teams does India have 00:13:00 Speaker 2: I asked this because we have a team traveling to England next month while this team is, they're playing the world test championship and the tour of England, we'll also have a team playing in Sri Lanka, Is this even okay? Because the other team going to Sri Lanka has not even been called India. 00:13:15 Speaker 1: A 00:13:16 Speaker 1: well, yes, India is sending a team to Sri Lanka in july is for a couple of uh limited overs series or white ball cricket series. I think there'll be 3 to 20 matches, the audio matches and there's a whole set of players who would, you know, could easily be in the indian team. That's how rich and strong the indian cricket scenario is right now. I mean, look at somebody like a trigger, the one he started to be the captain there split three show their school the period of not signing and so many others who were with the indian team not too long back, but they haven't found a place for the series against England. So, yes, I mean, you could say that, I 00:13:51 Speaker 2: don't know whether it's going to be a trend 00:13:53 Speaker 1: of two teams to national teams coming up because I don't think 00:13:56 Speaker 1: most of the, 00:13:58 Speaker 1: any other country has this kind of bench strength as India has currently in the old days, we used to say as journalists that, you know, Australia can feel two teams easily. Now, India can feel two, perhaps even three teams, but I don't think the other teams can not Australia, not England, not South Africa Pakistan. So I don't know if that's going to be the trend, but 00:14:19 Speaker 1: what might happen is that another engine, you know, you could call it India or whatever it is, could be with promising players or bench players. Those have not found a place if they are engaged if they kept busy. And remember, most countries would love to host such a team because indian players offer an attraction for sponsors, broadcasters, etcetera. So this could happen that India keeps sending another team across the cricket world regards to Dravid. Now, you know how robert is the chairman of the National Cricket Academy has also been the mentor for the India 18 before that the indian under 19 team, but currently his head of the N. C. And it said we don't know as yet completely but robert will accompany the team as coach is something that is being discussed widely 00:15:04 Speaker 1: in indian cricket circles and there are two reasons for it. One is of course that you know, he's not available, he's in England, he's in England with the indian cricket team and he's there to mid september by the time they're to rent and then he comes back and then of course they'll be preparing for the world T 20. So he's not available robert because he's been in this role mentor with the India under 90 teams 00:15:27 Speaker 1: Is the best option to pick fall, not just for because he's been there and you know, he's seen all these players, he's groomed them, but also because after the world t. 20 that is rubbish as his last assignment from what I gather is that he will not continue, he does not want to continue. 00:15:44 Speaker 1: This is what I hear. I don't think that the BCC offered him also a continuation but that technically that is the last assignment. So if you have somebody who has to step into fast issues, take the baton from him, so to speak, then drive. It becomes a logical choice, you know, and then it becomes a very smart move the BCC to send them to shillong first. It all depends on 00:16:06 Speaker 1: whether rahul Dravid wants the coach's job for a length of time for a period of time. You know, it's a one of assignment is a different thing from having a two or three or a four year term as has happened in the case of uh of rubbish. So that will depend on how Darwin himself sees his role. If it interests him to become the coach. I think that will be, it will be a great thing for India. 00:16:29 Speaker 2: Well, maybe one day Rahul Dravid will be the coach of all indian teams playing out there. 00:16:33 Speaker 2: But till then ravi Shastri is, it has to 00:16:36 Speaker 1: do. And that's the big match coming up in june the World Test 00:16:39 Speaker 2: Championship final against New Zealand. Three weeks left to go. What do you think? The chances are areas for the team who are the favorites and how's the preparations going? 00:16:50 Speaker 1: Right? You're right. Absolutely right. Mr. Fantastic. The big, the big story coming up next month and cricket is the World 00:16:56 Speaker 1: Test Championship finals between India and New Zealand. Before that of course, New Zealand is going to play a couple of tests matches against England. So they get a chance to warm up build up because a test environment that they are using to prepare for the World Chess Championship Final, which is not the case with India. So in that sense you can say that 00:17:15 Speaker 1: perhaps a bit of a handicap for India in terms of preparation. And remember also the indians, 00:17:20 Speaker 1: the team flies there on june the second and the match begins on 18th of june 18 to 22nd is the World Chess Championship Finals. So there are some warm up matches, but that's after the quarantine period, so useful and advantage of having reached early to test matches, momentum they can carry into 00:17:38 Speaker 2: the World has Championship 00:17:39 Speaker 1: finals but of course they lose badly in that momentum could be negative. 00:17:43 Speaker 1: Now as far as the teams are concerned we know what the teams are selections are in England or english conditions could be very beneficial to new Zealand. I mean they've got high quality pace attack. The patting seems a little bit wobbly in test cricket and the five reformat not in the audio format apart from Kane Williamson. They need to get runs from sale ross taylor and some of the other senior pros. But when you look at the bowling attack they've got Trent bold tim Southee kylie Jamison, it's a formidable pace attacks that they've got. They've also got some spinners Michele Santana who could be of value in England, it's the first last operate fielding team. 00:18:22 Speaker 1: Of course India have done exceptionally well in the lead up to the W. T. C. So is the number one ranked team is also number one 00:18:29 Speaker 1: in the W. T. C. Points system. So and they've had a couple of great winds won against Australia in Australia and then beating in England at home by the time you know India and you then get down together to play the World test championship. It'll be about five months since in the last period of test match. 00:18:45 Speaker 1: But I think when you look at the batting lineup there's gil and there's a glory Sharma, the genre 00:18:51 Speaker 1: without calling Ronnie punt then they all around us. You know Georgia is back, R Ashwin top of the game. Show me his back camera is there and asian Sharma so it's a very strong indian lineup and I think India are riding high because they've tasted success in very adverse situations 00:19:10 Speaker 1: even 00:19:10 Speaker 2: when they beat England 00:19:11 Speaker 1: at home. Remember they lost the first match 00:19:14 Speaker 1: so to come from behind and won a test series. So emphatically his credit to the indian team I think that you know I had a chance to speak to the city just before he went into the bubble and he says that you know I've just been having casual chats with the players and they are all raring to go. I mean they missed out on the I peel the completion of the I. P. L. 00:19:32 Speaker 1: Remember look at it from without call this point of view. He's got all the runs the titles, the plotters, the accolades. But it doesn't have their two things he doesn't want. He doesn't have the appeal title for RCB the other you don't have an I. C. C. Title. So while the indian team has been number one in test cricket for a long while under uh police captain See there's no I. C. C. Tournament. That is one not the Champions Trophy not the World T. 20 not the O. D. I. World Cup. Now this is an opportunity 00:19:59 Speaker 1: to get 00:20:00 Speaker 2: an I. C. 00:20:00 Speaker 1: C. Trophy on discovered because India has been the most consistent team in test cricket over over the last four years now. Every year, the last year they finished on top as the number one ranked team. So that is something that I think Cali and the other players will want to take into that self belief that we can win. 00:20:19 Speaker 1: We can win even if the matches in England not at home 00:20:22 Speaker 1: and we can win this the inaugural World Chess Championship. I think it'll do wonders for both these countries, not just India but India more so because there are more people following cricket India remember what happened when India won the World Cup in 1983 for the first time and then the 2007 T 20 World Cup, the inaugural one for the first time. You know, it just took India's indian cricket to another level 00:20:44 Speaker 1: I suspect if India in this World Test championship final uh will have a similar impact. So even as the pandemic rages and we all wonder where the world is headed, you know, it's it's good to know that a lot of activity in the sports world is happening. I mentioned so much about cricket and then of course there is 00:21:00 Speaker 1: football, Formula One, tennis and much, much more. And for this to discuss all these, let me welcome Samuel Aurora to join Mr Fantastic and myself welcome Samuel onto the show. 00:21:11 Speaker 2: Thank you so much as always, a great pleasure to be a part of this show. And yeah, we've got so many good things to discuss today. I think it's gonna be a fun shot. 00:21:19 Speaker 2: So let's get started with the Formula One Samel That was a bit of a greek tragedy over the weekend, wasn't it? Ferrari was already to come in from the cold, they got the pole position, but then, like crashes and even after that there was a good chance they would have raised dressed normally, but the gearbox failed 00:21:38 Speaker 2: and you could see him on track as he was 00:21:40 Speaker 2: entering the opening lap. He was heartbroken. It's just a terrible tragedy, isn't it? 00:21:45 Speaker 2: It is. It is. But the actual issue, the reason why he could not start the race was not as gay box. Of course, the gay box failed on his way to the grid, but it was also a driveshaft issue. And now many people are wondering why did Ferrari Tate the extra gamble, shouldn't they have just taken a five place grid penalty and change the game box and the drive shaft 00:22:05 Speaker 2: and send him out right there with a good come and he would have started in P. Six, so he would not have had the best chance to get to the podium, but still at least they would have got some really critical points ahead of McLaren, the major rivals who also got a podium here this weekend. So many wonder what happened there with Ferrari. Was it a bit of a two passionate judgment? Was it a bit too emotional for the moment? I think perhaps here, I think they should have focused more on the long term, but 00:22:28 Speaker 2: what's good for them is that Carlos Sainz, their second driver has gone in and gotten second place, his best finish here at Monaco. What a race weekend that was for him. 00:22:37 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And one thing that's happened with the result that's come over is uh, the driver's championship is wide open. Hamilton, in fact, is now second and does Mercedes finally have serious competition? 00:22:49 Speaker 2: I think they do. So here's a start, courtesy of my colleague at the podium syndrome. We found out that whenever rebel has led the championship, they have ended up winning it, both the drivers and the constructor's championship. This has happened in 2013, 12, 11, 10. All the years now, this is the first time since ages, I think, how can I'm 2018 00:23:09 Speaker 2: that any team or driver apart from Mercedes has led both the drivers and the constructor's championship. It's a new position for max Verstappen and the gap is quite big here right now between Verstappen and Hamilton. It just shows you that they are, as I mentioned previously as well, they're walking on a tightrope one error and you could see the gap opening up so widely. 00:23:29 Speaker 2: But knowing Hamilton Mercedes, they'll be bouncing back very, very quickly and I feel that we're going to have a very good championship battle on our hands this time 00:23:37 Speaker 2: really, I mean you expect the Mercedes team to come back immediately know frailties exposed during this weekend. 00:23:43 Speaker 2: Uh, it takes so this was more of a track specific one Monaco, they just weren't able to make things work as for voluntary boathouses retirement. It was a very absurd pit stop error from Mercedes and it's a bit of a sad thing that Mercedes have made many, many, many pit stop errors since sake last year, they just haven't been able to get in the groove 00:24:03 Speaker 2: And they're losing 1 2nd on average on every pit stop, 00:24:06 Speaker 2: red bull racing this time. What what happened was that they actually bolted up the nut of the wheel so they actually changed the alignment of it while the wheel gun was being put in so they couldn't really get the wheel out and in fact it's monday morning, the wheel is still not out of the country bottles this car, there was no chance in which he was able to compete ahead. So for Mercedes, I hope it's a one off 00:24:25 Speaker 2: because I really don't want to see them struggling like they did in Monaco 00:24:28 Speaker 2: for Hamilton, it was more of a base deficit kind of thing, just not able to make the setup work but surely, surely the next time modern baku we're going to see a straight up headway fight between rebels and the series 00:24:39 Speaker 2: well exciting race but for a season that's just a few races in, there's still a lot more to happen. That, however, is not the case with the world of football, is its symbol? 00:24:49 Speaker 2: No, it isn't. All the championships have ended. And where do we begin? Mr Fantastic. Because everywhere there are so many good narratives to speak about. 00:24:58 Speaker 2: All right, you want to walk us through everything that transpired over this weekend? 00:25:01 Speaker 2: Of course, why not? Let's speak about la liga first, because that's the league that ended the first out of the major ones. And Atletico Madrid are your brand new LA liga champions for the first time since 2013 and 2014 within the title by just two points. They beat Valladolid, they did not slip up right there. That was the final hurdle. 00:25:22 Speaker 2: And even though Real Madrid beat Villarreal on the final day, nothing they can do to topple Athletico Madrid. They I a brand new champions. And many wonder what was the difference with Atletico Madrid this year? Why were they so much better than they have been in the last few years? The reason according to Diego Simeone, the legendary manager, luis Suarez to anyone goals this season before in the overall goal tally and was Atletico's top scorer as well. What a team effort. That was, their intense, aggressive style. Finally paying off mister fantastic. And it's so good to see a new winner, right? Absolutely. And luis Suarez? Yes, so many goals. But what's more interesting statistically is he scored 16 goals in matches that 00:26:02 Speaker 2: Atletico was supposed to lose because they were trailing. So those are points that he's brought back and I'm pretty sure that Barcelona is ruing the fact that they let him go last year. Exactly. But luckily for them, if the rumors are correct, Sergio Aguero might be on his way. but I think that's just solving the tip of the iceberg in terms of their problems. They've got so many more issues. The conundrum of messy. What about the younger players 00:26:28 Speaker 2: and more importantly, mr. Fantastic. How do they not go bankrupt in this situation? 00:26:33 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Well, that's something for the big money guys to figure out. Maybe the super League will save them, who knows? Oh yeah, if it ever happens, I certainly hope it doesn't. Yeah, so moving on to France. There's some very interesting and exciting news coming out of there as well. 00:26:49 Speaker 2: There is an at last we have a new champion here as well. It is L O S C a loss. Clearly whatever they like to call it. But yes, lille is your new french champions. They have beaten PSG fair and square and what what a sight it is, mister fantastic for years. PhD have won the legal, they've dominated that. They call it a Farmer's League. 00:27:11 Speaker 2: The farmers have come up with something special. They have toppled big money team and lille. What a story, right. No big superstars in that team. No major highlighted name as such. Walking into this season. But they have gone in there. They have won the league from P H. G by just one point that got rather nervy at the final few weekends. 00:27:31 Speaker 2: Absolutely. And while the french Champions were announced yesterday as with the spanish, England had its champion a couple of weeks ago. But that doesn't mean that there were any less exciting games over the weekend. Oh, yes, Chelsea tried their very best to put Leicester into the Champions League spots, but well, Lester don't take favors to, they counter Chelsea's 12 lost to Aston Villa by losing 00:27:53 Speaker 2: too far on their own double the margin. Let's lose. Big 00:27:57 Speaker 2: Let's lose. Big indeed. So let me describe this as it really happened, right? So the game began for Leicester City to get into the Champions League. They needed Chelsea to lose a and them to win. So what happened was that things were going on where less? They got a penalty first up against bombers escorted, but then in the 40th minute, Harry Kane equalised. 00:28:17 Speaker 2: So there 00:28:18 Speaker 2: things got a little bit shaky for them. Chelsea fans right there at Villa Park started to celebrate but three minutes later asked him with us go with a gold. They were one nil up against Chelsea. So there that was an even more fun thing. So in the end, will have a leading one nil at half time. Leicester were 11 with spurs that was a bit of an intriguing sight to watch. But the second half is where things really, really got very interesting spurs considered a penalty. Jamie Wiley scored his second 1 to 1 to Leicester and then Aston Villa they got another penalty to. So in the 52nd minute they go to channel up against Chelsea, it was all looking like Leicester City had booked their berth in the Champions League. And you know what happened right there? A simple thing. 00:28:59 Speaker 2: It felt like Leicester City started to play not to lose 00:29:02 Speaker 2: instead of playing to win. You could see their fear, you could see something happening in their body language, decided to be a bit more fearful of everything. And so KASPER Schmeichel, it's a bit of a handful of the name, isn't it? He ended up conceding an own goal by punching the ball into his net. After a shot came in from the Chelsea side to to what happens now, what happens then Villa Park 00:29:21 Speaker 2: is that Chelsea go ahead, They scored the first goal with Ben Chilwell. So right now Chelsea is 21 but less, there are 22 at this stage, they would be out of the Champions League on goal difference, but then Gareth bale just comes in and knocks them straight in the face gets it, scores two goals right at the very end. Unless there are out, it's 00:29:41 Speaker 2: just what the Premier League is all about. Mr fantastic. Those last minute last day changes, 00:29:46 Speaker 2: you could see the pendulum swinging right before your eyes and I think that is just the peak of live sports. This is what true entertainment really is like in the world of sports, I was jumping on top of myself, I was so excited to see what was happening and a consequence of that. Tottenham's due for win means that arsenal now 00:30:04 Speaker 2: No longer have European football for the first time in 25 years. Next season, baffling stuff. I think it's 26 years actually. But then hey, who's counting among the good news was the fact that Liverpool managed to sneak back into the top three, not just four, and that doesn't bode well for English football. 00:30:23 Speaker 2: There are some open questions to bite at the end of this week is hurricane going to stay back at sports. 00:30:28 Speaker 2: The jersey that they recently launched does have his number is sergio. We're headed to Barcelona like you've already suggested and is most, all are going to be around for Liverpool's next year's campaign, a lot of exciting stuff coming home to follow. What do you think I have on? These are sort of finishes that really make league football what it is and 00:30:46 Speaker 2: you know, makes the super league look just what it is a greedy and out of placed on them and that never should have been conceptualized in the first place. 00:30:53 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely mister fantastic. I think, look, the super league got exposed, you know, for the hubris, for the greed that was being pursued by the team owners and obviously those new promoters who wanted to come in, but I think they were put in their places by fans. I think the power of the fans came through your 00:31:10 Speaker 1: and I think it's uh, let me put it very with a lot of Canada and the world just seems a better place for that. 00:31:17 Speaker 2: Well, thanks for that ideas. And while the football actions allowing us a little bit of time to breathe Grand Slam tennis is back and now it's french open. We've seen all the big names in action over the last few weeks. Nadal has had some titled winds. Novak has had some finals team has struggled when he's actually been absent for the last couple of weeks 00:31:37 Speaker 2: and federal will continue to struggle. He is himself said that he is not likely to win the title, 00:31:41 Speaker 2: but this is actually one of those years where it really seems like one of the next gen could win it. I know we spoke about this on our last episode as well, but if you look at the last few tournaments that have happened, it's always been one of Citypass Zverev Medvedev, Bertini now even Casper Ruud, 00:31:59 Speaker 2: well then the shape of Olive would have played, but he's pulled out of injury as of monday. 00:32:03 Speaker 2: So it's really one of those years where you feel that it's probably not going to be a Nadal or Djokovic winning the title. Of course, it all comes down to mental strength. The same kind of upheaval is also being seen in the women's game. It's going to be tough to pick a champion, but it's also hard to really look beyond the teenage defending champion in grocery attack 00:32:22 Speaker 2: 1 # one Ash party or Naomi Osaka 00:32:26 Speaker 1: who has past 00:32:27 Speaker 2: experience in winning grand slams. 00:32:28 Speaker 2: There's always an outside chance for the creates like serena Williams. But other than this, you really have to wonder if anyone has the mental fortitude to win. Two weeks of relentless tennis and in the women's game, if ever ceilings just don't matter. So we almost expect to be proven wrong even with our predictions. What do you guys think? So who do you pick for the title? So I'm going to start with the men's singles for this one and I really have no clue right. Nadal has traditionally been the favorite. He's the one everyone has their money on, but this year since it seems to be in good for me recently, won the leon to 50 then. Yeah, you might say it's just the 2 50 tournament, but 00:33:07 Speaker 2: he seems to be in a good groove. He's playing good tennis at this stage team you mentioned, maybe not him, he's not had the best of runs in the last few weeks, but Diego Schwartzman was really, really good last year. I want to see what he does this time out, but for him, I think the semi's might be the place where we see him eventually. He was only there in the same as last year, ended up losing the joker, which, but let's see what he can make up this time out. 00:33:30 Speaker 2: As for Medvedev, 00:33:32 Speaker 2: he's just 00:33:34 Speaker 2: in the worst possible run a form that he could possibly ask for. I think Roland Garros is the last place and nobody wants to be at this stage considering how uncomfortable he looks in the clay, so can't Medvedeva can't team out, but again, it's the french open, right? We never know which way things could be going eventually. Maybe you could have 00:33:53 Speaker 2: a big shock. Who knows what happens, right? It's a grand slam. Everyone is allowed to take part. Of course you do qualify as that is, but still, I I expect to see some major upset, more so in the women's skin, in the men's one. Well, for all, you know, federal might be standing with the trophy at the end of the next three weeks. Thank you so much. Mr Fantastic. Thank you so much. I ask for having me on this week. I'm very keen to see what happens in the Roland Garros this time out the first time, properly following tennis, like a hardcore fan, I think I'm not going to be disappointed. That's it from me for this week. Thanks for having me on the show again. I'll catch you next week. 00:34:25 Speaker 1: Thanks for that. Some of them Mr Fantastic. Tennis world is in a state of german, is it going to be the next or is it going to be the old guard which is going to prevail in the french open, the Syria and the women's championships to follow. And of course, all the other grand slams that the U. S. Open, 00:34:42 Speaker 1: Plus the other 80 autonomous. The jury is out on that. I would still tilt towards the likes of Djokovic and Nadal, also federal, in case, you know, if he's recovered and he's completely fit but of that for another day. Thanks a lot for joining in. Some L. Fantastic. And I'll call on you again next week. 00:35:02 Speaker 1: There is going to be a lot of action has been not just in tennis, but 00:35:06 Speaker 1: the cricket scene is holding up. The football scene is holding up. And we'll also have an update on what's happened in the Sushil Kumar, bewildering story about social command. I'll catch up with you again next week. Same time on the same show. Obviously. Take care till then. See you. 00:35:25 Speaker 1: Mhm. 00:35:27 Speaker 1: Yeah.