29 August National Sports Day
The National Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29August, on the birth anniversary of hockey player MajorDhyanChand. This day marks the birthday of MajorDhyanChandSingh, the hockey player who won gold medalsin Olympic of India in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936.India won three successive Olympic gold medals thus completing their first hat-trick at the Games. He scores 570 goals in his career, from 1926 to 1949.National Sports Day was included in the list of celebratory days in India for the first time in 2012.
Major Dhyan Chand born on August 29, 1905, in Allahabad to Sharadha Singh and Sameshwar Singh – a soldier in the British Indian Army, Dhyan Singh was drawn towards hockey at a very early age. Like his father, he too enrolled himself in the army at the age of 16 and continued to play his favourite sport there.MajorDhyanChand is simply the greatest Indian field hockey player of all time.He was the man who mesmerised everyone with his silky stick-work earning him the nickname ‘hockeywizard’for his magical touch, superb control, creativity and extraordinary goal-scoring feats, Chand was instrumental in taking Indian hockey to greater heights underhistalismanicleadership.
He was bestowed with India’s third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan in 1956.After the death of Chand in 1979, the Indian Postal Department issued stamps in his honour. As a tribute to him, the National Stadium of Delhi was also renamed to Major Dhyan Chand stadium.
On this day, President of India honours eminent sports personalities with major awards including Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Award.The President confers National Sports Awards to honour sportsmen who have achieved laurels in the sports realm and enhanced country’s pride all over the world.Other than spreading awareness on the importance of sports, the special day also highlights the achievements and contributions of Chand to India’s rich sports history and culture.
The noteworthy memorial for him is the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in India.Instituted in 2002, the award is given only to the disciplines included in the events like Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and World Cup along with Cricket, Indigenous Games, and Parasports. The nominations for a given year are accepted till 30 April. The first recipients of the award were ShahurajBirajdar (Boxing), Ashok Diwan (Hockey), and Aparna Ghosh (Basketball), who were honoured in 2002. Usually conferred upon not more than three sportspersons in a year, a few exceptions have been made (2003, 2012–2013, and 2018–2020) when more recipients were awarded.
AnkitaShirke
Sports Teacher
