National Sports Day 2019: Significance & History of the Day Celebrated to Honour Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand
August 29 is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India to celebrate and honour the legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, who is regarded to be one of India’s greatest ever hockey player of all time. Known as “The Wizard” for his magical touch, superb control, creativity and extraordinary goal-scoring feats.
National Sports Day is celebrated in India on August 29. National Sports day, which is also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas in India, is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary Indian hockey player, who was also born on this day in 1905. This auspicious day is celebrated across the country to create and spread awareness about the importance of sports in everyone’s life. The President of India also honours eminent sportspersons with the Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards on this day.
In Chand’s honour and to commemorate the feats and achievements he had accomplished, the Union government of India, decided to announce August 29 as the country’s National Sports Day. Dhyan Chand Birthday Special: 5 Facts on Legendary Hockey Player’s Birth Anniversary and National Sports Day.
History
August 29 is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India to celebrate and honour the legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, who is regarded to be one of India’s greatest ever hockey player of all time. Known as “The Wizard” for his magical touch, superb control, creativity and extraordinary goal-scoring feats, the late Chand led India to three consecutive Olympic gold medals. With Chand in the team, British India swept-over the top-honours at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. In his hockey career spanning 22 years, Chand scored over 400 goals. He was bestowed with India’s third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan in 1956.
Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad on August 29, 1905. His father Sameshwar Singh was a soldier in the British army and also played hockey for them. Chand at a young age had no interest in sports but loved wrestling to some extent. He was initially called Dhyan Singh but was later given the name “Chand” for practising Hockey at night under the moon. He will go on to lead India to several historic feats including three successive Olympic medals and earned the name “Hockey ka Jaadugar” (Hockey Magician).
Chand passed away on December 3, 1979, at the age of 74. He left as one of India’s greatest ever hockey player and is often said that the world is yet to see a player like him. But despite the recognition, Chand often complained of neglect from the Indian government. He had once famously said, “When I die, the world will cry, but India’s people will not shed a tear for me, I know them.”
Significance
The National Sports Day is celebrated in India to preach and spread the importance of sports and games in every individual’s life. The National Sports Day also highlights the importance of the contributions Dhyan Chand to rich sporting history in India and its sporting culture. The president of India confers the National Sports Awards on this day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award are some of the honours given on this day.
The Indian government over the years has launched many schemes related to sports on this auspicious day. Most famously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Khelo India scheme in 2016 on this very day.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2019 07:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).