Euro 2012 QF 3 - it will be France says Chanakya

Sports are great pastime and people madly follow some sports – this leads to strange beliefs and following.  Astronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names, including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid – Chanakya, a Tiger Oscar Fish is basking glory……… why ?

Some attribute rare qualities to animals -  Psychic animals are quickly becoming as prevalent a part of major international tournaments ; and it is not the form, class, players, coaches that count but predictions by animals which certainly do not anything about the Sport nor of the players.  It all started with an octopus at the World Cup two years ago. Paul (as he was affectionately known) became a global superstar when he correctly predicted all of Germany’s games, plus a win for Spain in the final against the Netherlands.  Making his predictions from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul became an institution. Someone actually bothered to trace his family tree so that it could be proved he was of English decent. There was also a song. It was also worldwide news when he died in Oct last year.

There are some animals, which are ugly and mostly people would not care to learn – one such is the Axolotl – a water monster, a neotenic salamander;  larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. As of 2010, wild axolotls are near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and polluted waters.  One of them is in news for predicting the results of Euro 2012. The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, [Euro 2012]  is the 14th European Championship for national football teams organised by UEFA. there were 16 teams in the fray as two of the quarter finals is over; the third is slated today.   It is a total l of 31 matches  with Ukraine hosting 16 of them and Poland 15.

In the 1^st QF, Ronaldo header took  Portugal into last four defeating the Chezhs’ stubborn resistance; Portugal now wait for the winner of Spain / France match.  Germany is also into last 4 after beating Greece.  Spain plays France while England will play Italy tomorrow.  Statistically, Spain have never won against France in a major tournament (one World Cup and three European Championship encounters). It is six competitive matches in total.  They have won other matches against France.  France had earlier beaten Spain twice at Euros. 

So who will win today ?  Chanakya says it is France and not Spain.  Paul the Octopus managed 8 correct predictions in a row.  Mathematicians, of course, were less impressed. After all, Paul's chances stood at a less than astronomical 256 to 1. Still, that more pedestrian interpretation of the World Cup wonder has not stopped an entire zoo of would-be imitators from trying their luck.  Now it is crazy as more animals – Pig, bulldog, tortoises, Ferret,  Fish, Otter, Axolotl,  Elephant and more are in the fray

otter prediction.........

This fish is not different – only thing is its nativity – the Chennai fish – Chanakya, local press has it that it has already accurately predicted the last 7 results.  On Saturday, a good 12 hours before the third quarterfinals kick-off at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Chanakya 'predicted' a win for France against Spain.   By the time the result comes in the wee hours of Sunday, Chanakya may dive into oblivion or emerge as a reincarnate of Paul the octopus.

TOI and other papers report that today at noon,  four people stepped into engineer Kumaresan's house in Anna Nagar, Chennai, where Chanakya lives in a 150-litre glass tank, all alone. One of them took out two porous dishes with fish feed - one with the French flag and the other with the Spanish flag - and floated them simultaneously on the water. The next second, Chanakya darted to the French tray, and savoured every bit of feed without throwing a glance at the Spanish tray that floated aimlessly to his left. "There!" exclaimed the spectators to this feat claiming that it is going to be France.  It is stated that it is done with a purpose, a Chennai-based NGO Indian Community Welfare Organisation  is hosting the prediction  to spread awareness about endangered fish species.  They claim that though its predictions have come true all the time, it is more about spreading awareness than about psychic power !! Chanakya has been doing this routine every noon since June 18, with a break on June 20. On Thursday, he picked Portugal hours before their game against the Czech Republic. The next day, he preferred Germany to Greece.   This has been kept as a low key affair, Organisers send press releases of the Chanakya’s pick and there reportedly have been no crowds watching the event.  Through the prediction game, ICWO wants to save such fish varieties as bluefin tuna, Maltese ray, goliath grouper, European eel,  and more of such varieties.

Pets are lovable, but remember that they savour their food rather than thinking of predicting something to which they are totally unaware of.  Animals predicting the outcomes of any sporting event has the same odds as completely random betting.  Animals would have innate instincts, but they are more of survival, increasing their tribe, avoiding dangers and getting their food.  So whom do you will win the match in few hours from now – France or Spain and do France have a better chance, as predicted by Chanakya ?

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.