honor the legendary hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand Singh.
National sports Day every year on
the 29th August. The day is celebrated to honor the legendary hockey player,
Major Dhyan Chand Singh.
the legendary hockey player was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
29th August happens to be the birth anniversary of
Dhyan Chand,
Dhyan Chand is officially known as ‘Major Dhyan Chand’; he enrolled in the Indian army at the age of 16. His mentor Subedar Major Bale Tiwari recognized his talent for hockey early, and guided him through the initial stages of his career in the sport.
Originally named Dhyan Singh, the legend received the nickname ‘Chand’ from his colleagues as he used to wait for the moon to come out and then practise all night in the moonlight.
who made India proud by his extraordinary sporting skills. He was
the greatest hockey player India has ever seen.
he learnt the game of hockey from his coach Pankaj Gupta and soon
became an expert in ball dribbling and goal scoring. He quickly became the
Indian Hockey Team captain due to his excellent playing techniques.
During his sports career Dhyan
Chand had won three Olympic medals and till date remains the only hockey player
who has received the Padma Bhushan award. He had won the Olympic Gold medal six
times in a row for India in hockey. His lifetime awards and achievements in
sports are considered as the highest point in the history of Indian sports.
Dhyan
Chand contributed to the game even after his retirement; he was the Chief Hockey
Coach at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala for a while, and he
also taught at many coaching camps in Rajasthan.
He captained
India throughout his playing career and helped India win three Olympic medals –
in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He scored more than 400 goals in his career
which spanned over 22 years.
Dhyan
Chand is arguably the greatest sportsperson that India has
ever produced. It is not surprising, then, that the Government decided to
celebrate his memory so strikingly; there can be no greater honour than having your
birthday designated as the National Sports Day of a country!
This
day is celebrated by organizing friendly matches between different Indian
hockey teams at the Dhyan Chand National stadium in New Delhi which was
constructed in the respect and honor of Major Dhyan Chand.
SATISH DUBEY
