The Formula One Chinese Grand Prix has returned after a three-year hiatus. The meaning of the race is two-fold, as it also features the first ever Chinese F1 driver - Zhou Guanyu – competing on home soil. How significant is Zhou’s appearance for China’s motorsport? What are the most classic moments from past Shanghai races? Listen to Sideline Story discussions for more.

Real Madrid and Manchester City are back at the starting line after an eye-catching draw at Bernabeu in the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. How are things looking for Real? Will they falter like they did in last year's 4-0 semifinal return leg? Is Bayern Munich a different team at the Champions League? And did Arsenal show nerves in its long waited return to the last eight? Follow Sideline Story for our latest analysis.

Novak Djokovic is in a search of a new coach after a shocking decision to part ways with his title winning partner Goran Ivanisevic. Is it a wise move in his pursuit of more Grand Slam titles? Has Jannik Sinner replaced him as the best men’s tennis player as things stand? Is it time for Andy Murray to hang up his racquet after suffering another major injury? Follow Sideline Story as we try to unpack these questions.

Toni Kroos has emerged from retirement from international football and rejoined “Die Mannschaft.” He wasted no time in proving his worth in the team’s two most recent friendly wins. What is the significance of his return as Germany prepares to host Euro 2024? Is it a light at the end of the tunnel for Germany after a period of struggles?

China’s national football team has begun another quest for the FIFA World Cup under new coach Branko Ivankovic. What has the Croatian got to work with and can he accomplish the task of taking the Chinese squad into the tournament in 2026? Join us on Sideline Story for thoughts on whether it’s finally time for a breakthrough and how Team China can achieve that.

Three teams are leading what could be the closest title race for the English Premier League this season. Will Liverpool win it as a farewell gift to Jurgen Klopp? Is City still as strong in its title defense? Can Arsenal avoid a repeat of history last season and finally win a long-awaited trophy? Join Sideline Story this week to find out which team we think is the favorite and why.

LeBron James is the first person in NBA history to reach the 40,000-point milestone in an illustrious career that has lasted two decades and is still going. This week's Sideline Story takes a look at whether he is basketball's GOAT, as well as the season so far and what might happen after.

The new Formula One season gets underway in Bahrain this weekend. Will it be another season of Red Bull dominance? How will Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari next year shape things in 2024? Why is this a crucial season for Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu? Join this episode of Sideline Story to hear what we are most excited about before it all begins.

Bayern Munich is at risk of its first trophy-less season in more than a decade. In this episode, we share our thoughts on the reasons behind their struggles, whether replacing coach Thomas Tuchel will make things better, and who do we think are candidates for the job.

Steph Curry didn't make it into this year's NBA All-Star starting lineup, but he gets a chance to challenge the WNBA's Sabrina Ionescu in a three-pointer shootout. Also among this year's star-studded list is LeBron James who is making his 20th appearance in the event. In this week's Sideline Story, we examine whether Curry deserves to be among the starting five, LeBron James' longevity, and we offer our wildest ideas on what we would like to see in future All Star competitions.

Why isn’t NFL as popular globally as in U.S.? The Super Bowl is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the American sports calendar. However, this event and the NFL in general do not appear to have the same level of popularity on a global scale. Join us on this week’s episode of Sideline Story where we discuss the Super Bowl, the NFL, and the global reach of this sport.

Chinese sensation Zheng Qinwen finished as runner-up at the Australian Open, becoming the second Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final. The men’s singles competition also has a young champion after Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev on his way to a first Grand Slam title. This week on Sideline Story, we share our thoughts on Zheng’s campaign at the Australian Open, and we also discuss the current status of men’s tennis.

The AFC Asian Cup concluded far too early for Chinese fans. China’s performance was disappointing after a winless group stage campaign with no goals scored, posing a lot of questions about the team’s future. In this episode, we analyze the status of the Chinese men’s national football team and discuss whether coach Aleksandar Jankovic should shoulder the blame for China’s early exit.

Novak Djokovic’s first two matches at the Australian Open ended tougher than expected. Did the world number one struggle from fatigue? How is his title defense looking? Also in this episode, we chat about some of China's top performers that will be looking to build on the success that was achieved in 2023. In addition, we also take a look at Naomi Osaka’s game as the former champion returned to the Melbourne Park after a maternity leave from the tour.

The football world has lost one of its greatest icons. Join us on this week’s episode of Sideline Story, where we talk about the coaching and playing style legacy left behind by ‘Der Kaiser’, Franz Beckenbauer. Also, as the Asian Cup is underway in Qatar, we preview the biggest football tournament of the continent with a focus on China’s chances of success and the top players and teams to watch.

Every year we seem to see teenage sensations emerging from a variety of sporting codes around the world. Some maintain this success, other struggle to live up to the hype. Join us on Sideline Story where we discuss 16-year-old Luke Littler’s extraordinary run at the World Darts Championship this year. We also talk about the pressures these young stars face, and select out top youth talents that have made an impact on their sports.

As 2023 is coming to an end, we have to recognize what a phenomenal year it has been in the world of sports. In this episode we give our thoughts on the top performances, the best sporting moments and the most successful athletes in the past year. Join our discussion to see if we share the same memory of 2023 sporting highlights with you.

2023 has been a monumental year for several Chinese athletes and teams. Join the Sideline Story discussion to hear our thoughts on these performances as we review the sporting highlights of the year in China. We also talk about which sports are the fastest growing in China and which athletes are the most influential as well as our expectations for 2024.

The UEFA Champions League group stages have come to an end. Several big names remain, while Manchester United became the biggest crash. Join us in the discussion of the UCL season so far. We also take a closer look at Bayern Munich's record unbeaten run and pick our top prospects to lift the title this season!

The top two clubs of the German Bundesliga are now the only two teams in major European leagues still unbeaten in domestic action this season. How has Harry Kane influenced Bayern Munich’s football? What is special about the young Bayer Leverkusen squad and manager Xavi Alonso’s coaching style? What would the rivalry between the two teams look like in the rest of the season? Also in this episode, we talk about the surprising performances from other German clubs.

Climate change and sports seem to be intrinsically linked. Join us on this week's episode of Sideline Story, where we discuss climate change's impact on summer and winter sports, what can be done to counter these effects, as well as what sports organizations are doing to reduce their carbon footprint.

The ATP and WTA tennis seasons have come to an end. Join us on this week's episode of Sideline Story to hear our thoughts on the past season. We chat about the dominance of Novak Djokovic and the possible return of Rafael Nadal next season. We also discuss whether Djokovic can reach his goal of a Golden Slam in 2024, and preview top Chinese players’ potential next season.

Euro 2024 qualifiers are in the final stage and there have been some surprising packages and disappointing sides. Which teams have impressed the fans the most so far? Which individual players have stood out? Also in this episode, we make early predictions on who are the real title contenders next year in Germany?

The 2023 Cricket World Cup in India has produced some dominant displays and a few upset results too. Join us on this week's episode of Sideline Story, where we discuss the action we have seen so far. We assess team and player performances. We also talk about some of the game's best ever players, as well as examine the state of the men's game in China.