Defending champions meaning in English

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Definition

the defending champions: the champions who currently hold the title noun

to defend a championship, title: to (try to) win a game or title and remain champions idiom

to defend (sthg, against sthg): to protect, to support, to guard (sthg, against sthg) verb

Examples

"It looks like he's in a good position to defend his championship at the French Open, Roland Garros, next month."
"Now they're the defending champions."

Exercise 1

Select the TRUE statements from the list below, according to the broadcast.

There may be more than one correct answer!

A Spanish tennis player called Safil Ladal is the current champion of Roland Garros.

Enrique is reporting on a series of sporting events around the world.

A Spanish tennis player has defeated a low-ranked tennis player to win the Monte Carlo tournament.

A baseball team called the Yomiuri Giants are historically one of the best teams in Japan.

Select the TRUE statements from the list below, according to the broadcast.

There may be more than one correct answer!

A Spanish tennis player called Safil Ladal is the current champion of Roland Garros.

This statement is true. Enrique says that Ladal (a Spanish star) is in a good position to "defend his championship" at the French Open, (Roland Garros) next month. "To defend a championship (or title)" is to compete for a title or championship which was won previously. For example: In 2010, the Italians will defend their championship in the World Cup, and try to win the tournament a second consecutive time.

Enrique is reporting on a series of sporting events around the world.

This is a true statement. In this broadcast, Enrique gives us a "round-up" (or brief summary) of news from the world of sports. He tells us about tennis, golf, and baseball tournaments in Monte Carlo, Dubai, and Japan respectively.

A Spanish tennis player has defeated a low-ranked tennis player to win the Monte Carlo tournament.

This statement is incorrect. We are told that Spanish player Safil Ladal has defeated "number one-ranked Franco Federer at the Monte Carlo Open". Since Federer is the highest-ranked player in the world, he isn't "inferior" to the Spanish player. A "rank" is a "grade" or "level". In tennis, players are assigned "ranks" based on their success in tournaments.

A baseball team called the Yomiuri Giants are historically one of the best teams in Japan.

This is a true statement. Enrique says, "the Giants are the most successful team in the history of Japanese professional baseball", meaning that this team has a history of success.

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