National Sports Day

Every year 29th of August is celebrated as National Sports Day. Government India chooses this day as the National Sports Day in order to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. Major Dhyan Chand served as captain of the Indian team during the Berlin Olympics 1936 and won the Gold medal for the country. He also created a golden era for Indian hockey. During his career, he secured more than 570 goals in 185 hockey matches. So from 2012, India started celebrating the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand as the National Sports day. On this day, the government of India is taking several measures and honouring the players by announcing the National Sports Award for extraordinary players and creating many schemes to improve sports personalities from India.

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The above image shows the Hockey Legend Dhyan Chand, whose birthday was celebrated as national sports day

Why Are Sports Important For The Nation And Person? 

Usually, sport is important for people to maintain both physical and mental health. Sports will improve productivity and community health, increase lung function, reduce mental stress, reduce medical expenses, promote personal discipline and character, generate great leaders and many more. Sports are important for the nation too. Because it can support nation-building by creating a sense of unity and national pride among citizens while representing the nation in international sports events, the sports will bring positive attention to the nation.

Today’s sports turned into an important component for the Socioeconomic development of the country. Conducting mega sports events in the country will improve employment, develop infrastructure, the secure inflow of foreign capital and help to emerge budding players in their field. So, Sports will indirectly support the economic development of the country in many directions. Likewise, India has many sports legends like Udanpari - PT Usha, Master of Blaster - Sachin Tendulkar, Sania Mirza,  Hockey Wizards - Dhyan Chand, PV Sindhu, Mary Kom and many more. 

Who Is Dhyan Chand And His Contributions? 

Major Dhyan Chand was also known by the nickname Wizard of Hockey. Major Dhyan Chan was a great Indian hockey player. Hockey legend Dhyan Chan was born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad. Sharadha Singh and Sameshwar Singh were the parents of Dhyan Chand, and he was the younger child of his parents. Roop Singh was the brother of Dhyan Chand, and he is also a hockey player. The Father of Dhyan Chand was also a hockey player, and he contributed to British Indian Army. Initially, Dhyan Chand was interested in wrestling, but after joining the Indian Army, he started playing hockey casually with his friends in Jhansi. He joined in Indian army as a soldier when he was at the age of 22. 

Dhyan Chand In Hockey 

Major Dhyan Chand was a popular Indian field hockey player. He started his hockey career in 1926. Chand was named for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats. Chand got interested in playing hockey by  Subedar Major Tiwari. Initially, Dhyan Chand started playing hockey under the supervision of Subedar Major Tiwari.  Dhyan Chand brought three Olympic gold medals to India during 1928, 1932 and 1936.  He also played an important role in winning seven medals from eight Olympic games, which was held between 1928 to 1964.

After seeing Chand’s outstanding performance in hockey, in 1927, the government of India appointed Dhyan Chand as “ Lance Naik”, which is an important role in the Indian Army. In 1936, Chand was again promoted to Nayak. In 1936, he was promoted to Subedar and also played as a Captain of the Indian hockey team. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant, captain and major in the Indian Army.

While playing hockey, if the ball sticks up the stick of Chand, it will be removed only after scoring a goal. He is such a great hockey player. Sometimes, the referee of the match used to break the hockey stick of Dhyan Chand to check whether he had a magnet in his stick.  Dhyan Chand was also named as The Wizard or The Magician of Hockey after seeing his ball control. From 1926 to 1949, he showed his contribution to all international matches. According to the autobiography of Dhyan Chand, he scored more than 570 goals in 185 matches during his lifetime.

Dhyan Chand was elected as the captain of the Indian Hockey team during Berlin Olympics 1936. He played a part in winning three Olympic gold medals for India. He secured more than 400 goals in international matches. He played for the Indian hockey team from 1926 to 1948, which is for about 22 years.

During his lifetime, In 1956, the Government of India honoured him by providing the third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan. Also, many have questions about the national sports day whose birthday? Yes, it is on Major Dhyan Chand’s birthday. Internationally, sports day is celebrated on 06th April of every year. So, from 2012 the happy national sports day started every year on 29th August.

About National Sports Day Celebrations 

During the national sports day date, the program was organised by the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the President of the country. People from all over the nation celebrated the event by sharing the text ‘happy national sports day’. On this day, the government of India will praise awards and honours for the players who enhanced the value of the nation over the world.

Usually, people who are good in sports will be honoured by many awards like, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Dronacharya Award and Arjuna Award. Now, the government of India is providing the "Dhyan Chand Award" for famous sports personalities.

Even after the death of Major Dhyan Chand, the Indian Postal Department released a stamp to pay tribute to Dhyan Chand’s contribution. Also, the Government of India renamed the National Stadium of Delhi the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium to pay tribute to Major Dhyan Chand. From 22nd August 2020, the government of India announced the National Sports Awards. 

For 2021 the government of India announced the award winner. Also, the awardee will receive an award from President Ram Nath Kovind. Due to covid, the virtual mode function was organised from Rashtrapati Bhawan.

How Person Will Get Selected For Dhyan Chand Award 

The award nominees are received from all the government recognised sports federations like the Indian Olympic Association,  the Sports Promotion and Control Boards, the Sports Authority of India, and the state and the union territory governments. The team will select two eligible people from each sports discipline. They will include the sportsperson from various government organisations too. BCCI will provide the list of nominations from cricket players. The person who received  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award will also be nominated for the Dhyan Chand Award. The organisation will accept the nomination on the 30th of April every year.

Then the nomination list will be sent to SAI and concerned  National Sports Federations for the achievement verification process. Meanwhile, the National Anti-Doping Agency also provides doping clearance for sports personalities. A nine-member committee from various organisations sits together and ranks the sports personalities based on their performance in state, national and international matches. Their ranking will vary depending on their championship in various matches and the disciplines. They will calculate the efficiency of the particular person for the team events. For the top rankers, the government of India will provide the Dhyan Chand Award during the National Sports Day of the year. 

List Of Dhyan Chand Awardee 2020

Every year the national sports day is celebrated on the 29th  of August. In remembrance of the legendary sportsperson Dhyan Chand. The government of India is celebrating this to encourage sports personalities and budding sportspersons.