The 29th of August is a very important day for sport professionals in India. It is instituted as National Sports Day as it happens to be the birthday of legendary Indian hockey wizard Major Dhyanchand. August 29, 1905 was the day when India’s most talented hockey player was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
DHYANCHAND - THE SPORTING LEGEND
Dhyan Chand also known as Major Dhyan Chand because of his association with the Indian army at the age of 16. However, his mentor Subhedar Major Bale Tiwari recognized his talent in the game and guided him through the intial stages of his career in the sport. Pankaj Gupta was the first coach of Dhyan Chand who taught him the game and this made Dhyan Chand a master in ball dribbling and goal scoring. He also nick named the player with the name ‘Chand’ which means Moon in Hindi.
Dhyan Chand also lead the Indian team as a captain and was also awarded Padma Bhusha. Tilll date he remains the only player in hockey to receive the award.. During the period 1928 – 1956, Dhyan Chand won the gold Olympic medal 6 times in a row.
On the field he was named the "Wizard of Hockey" for he exerted complete control on the ball. It appeared that the ball used to stick to his hockey stick while playing. So great was the magic of Dhyan Chand that the Tokyo officials broke his hockey stick to search for a magnet inside, and tried to console themselves saying he had added some sort of glue. On one occasion, a lady from the audience asked Dhyan Chand to play with her walking stick instead. He was supposidely so fast that TV analysis of his gameplay was rendered too slow.
The greatest patriotic moment expressed by him was in the 1936 summer Olympics at Berlin. After victory, the team captained by DhyanChand raised the Indian tricolour in the dressing room and sang Vande Mataram an Indian nationalist song, rather than the British national anthem, which they were obliged to sing.Impressed by his performance, Adolf Hitler supposedly offered to make Dhyan Chand a Field Marshal in the German army, but the latter refused.
Dhyan Chand retired from his service in army when he was 51 at the post of Major.Dhyan Chand contributed to the game even after his retirement. After his retirement, Dhyan Chand earned a diploma in coaching from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, in Punjab. He was positioned as the Hockey Coach Chief at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala and also taught at many coaching camps in Rajasthan.
Dhyan Chand however died penniless in the year 1979 and uncared for in a hospital, receiving a meagre pension.A year after his death, the Indian Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in his honour. Major Dhyan Chand also has a stadium recognsied by his name as the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
Read More about DhyanChand at http://www.sankalpindia.net/drupal/dhyan-chand-hockey-wizard-india
NATIONAL SPORTS DAY
Since his death, DhyanChand’s birthday has been since celebrated as National Sports Day Of India. National Sports Day is mainly celebrated in educational institutes and sports academies all over the country. Moreover,efforts are on to make the youth aware about the advancement of sports in the country and is also motivated to make a successful career in different sports.Various sports events especially hockey matches, prize distribution functions are organized on this day.
The lifetime achievement awards in sports, which is regarded as the highest in the field in India, the Dhyan Chand Award was initiated in 2002, to those who have contributed during their career in sports as well as have been major contributors in the promotions of the sports after retirement.
Special Award distribution event at Rastrapati Bhawan makes this day memorable for many stars of the Indian sports world. Popular and renowned sport-related awards like Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award are presented by honorable president of India, to great sportsmen of the year.