Every year on 29th August, we celebrate our National Sports Day. This day is celebrated to commemorate the contribution of sports personalities in the field of sports. This day is also celebrated because it is the birth anniversary of legendary Hockey Player Major Dhyan Chand.
History of National Sports Day
The year 2012 was the first time when National Sports Day was included in the list of National celebrations. This day is celebrated to mark the contribution of Legendary Hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
After Major Dhyan Chand’s death in the year 1979, the Indian Postal Department changed the name of National Stadium of Delhi as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, to acknowledge the contribution of Major Dhyan Chand.
And finally it was the year 2012 when it was decided that August 29, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand will be celebrated as National Sports Day.
Who was Major Dhyan Chand?
Major Dhyan Chand was born 29 August 1905, in Allahabad (presently Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh. He was known as ‘the wizard’ of Hockey. He is one of the greatest Hockey players of all time.
Major Dhyan Chand was part of the Indian Hockey Team and that team won three gold medals in consecutive Summer Olympics, in the year 1928, 1932, and 1936. Major Dhyan Chand started his hockey career with the British Indian Army’s regimental squad.
Major Dhyan Chand played his final international match in the year 1948, and he scored more than 400 goals during his entire international career. And in the year 1956 he retired from the Indian Army with a rank of a Major and in the same year he was honoured with Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.
In the 2021 the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was changed to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Significance of National Sports Day
The main aim of National Sports Day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of physical and mental wellbeing. On this day various states conduct different sports activities and co competitions.
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced the Khelo India campaign in the year 2018 to promote the spirit of sports among the citizens of India.
On the occasion of National Sports Day, The president of India present several prestigious Awards in the field of Sports like Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards, and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given to the Athletes for their life-long contribution in their respective fields.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s post on sports day:
महान खिलाड़ी मेजर ध्यानचंद जी की जयंती पर मैं उन्हें सादर नमन करता हूँ और राष्ट्रीय खेल दिवस की आप सभी को बधाई देता हूँ।
दिल्ली सरकार की मिशन एक्सीलेंस स्कीम हमारे खिलाड़ियों को तराश कर उन्हें आगे बढ़ने में मदद करती है, कल यही सब खिलाड़ी ओलंपिक में भारत को गोल्ड दिलाएँगे। pic.twitter.com/0H3XZbtR9I
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 29, 2022
PM Modi’s social media post on 29th of Aug 2022:
Greetings on National Sports Day and tributes to Major Dhyan Chand Ji on his birth anniversary.
The recent years have been great for sports. May this trend continue. May sports keep gaining popularity across India. pic.twitter.com/g04aqModJT
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2022
