Major Dhyan Chand was instrumental in completing India’s first hat-trick of Olympic gold medals with victories at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games. In the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, India participated for the first time and won the gold medal in hockey here, with Dhyan Chand scoring the highest 14 goals.
National Sports Day means the birthday of a player of India who will live among sportsmen, the world knows this great player of India as Major Dhyan Chand, Sir Don Bradman in Cricket, Pele in Football and Major Dhyan Chand in Hockey. Major Dhyan Chand’s birthday is celebrate as National Sports Day in the country on August 29. Let’s know some special facts about this hockey wizard.
Not interested in sports in childhood, became a hockey wizard
Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, into a Rajput family. As a child, he was not particularly interested in sports, but when he held a hockey stick in his hand, his hard work, study, dedication, struggle and determination earned him a name that has become an example today. .
Joined army at 16, served country through hockey
After completing his general education, Major Dhyan Chand joined the army at the age of 16, joining the army in 1922 as a simple soldier in the 1st Brahmin Regiment in Delhi. Even at this time he was not particularly intereste in hockey. It is said that the credit for inspiring Dhyan Chand to play hockey goes to Major Tiwari, Subedar of the regiment. Major Tiwari himself was also a hockey lover and player. Major Tiwari taught Dhyan Chand the nuances of hockey and soon Dhyan Chand became the greatest player in the world.
Dhyan Chand rose from constable to major due to his hockey talent
Dhyan Chand received his first promotion as Lance Naik in 1927 after five years of service. In 1932, he was name Nayak when he was selecte in the Indian team going to the Los Angeles Olympics. In 1938, he received the ‘Viceroy’s Commission’ and became a Subedar. He then successively became Subedar, Lieutenant and Captain. Later he was made a major. That is, a child who was not intereste in sports in his childhood got promote in the army only because of the game of hockey.
Achievements and stories of Major Dhyan Chand
- Major Dhyan Chand was instrumental in completing India’s first hat-trick of Olympic gold medals with victories at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games.
- In the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, India participated for the first time and won the gold medal in hockey here, with DhyanChand scoring the highest 14 goals.
- India played several matches in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, during which the Indian team scored a total of 262 goals, of which Dhyan Chand, playing as a center forward, single-handedly scored 101 goals, in which India defeated America 24–1. The team was Storm from the East. He crushed eleven players of the American team with his speed.
- Major DhyanChand was awarde Padma Bhushan, India’s prestigious civilian honor in 1956 by the Government of India for his contribution to hockey.
- Dhyan Chand cites the 1933 Beighton Cup final between Calcutta Customs and Jhansi Heroes as his favorite hockey match. Some reports claim that the then German dictator Adolf Hitler offered Dhyan Chand German citizenship but he declined the offer.
- In 1935, when the Indian team went on a tour to Australia and New Zealand. Then the Indian team was in Adelaide for a match and Bradman also came there to play the match. Then both Bradman and Dhyan Chand met each other for the first time. After watching the hockey wizard play, Bradman said that he score goals the way runs are score in cricket. When Bradman learne that Dhyan Chand had score a total of 201 goals in 48 matches on the tour, he said that it was made by a hockey player or batsman.
PM Modi offered floral tributes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to remember Major DhyanChand and wished all sports lovers on National Sports Day, writing- My greetings to all sportsmen on National Sports Day. India is proud of his contribution to the nation. I pay tribute to Major DhyanChand Ji on his birth anniversary.
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur paid tributes at the National Stadium
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur paid floral tributes at Dhyan Chand’s statue at National Stadium Delhi, he wrote in a tweet – 📋egendഩ. Paying our tribute to Indian Hockey Wizard Major DhyanChand Ji on National Sports Day at 𝐋𝐥 𝐋ε Ghaghasa, National Stadium, Delhi. On this special occasion, we are launching a big initiative on #IndianSports. Join me today to find out.
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan remembered like this
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan offered floral tributes to Dhyan Chand’s photo at his residence. CM Shivraj tweeted, “I bow down to the hockey wizard Major DhyanChand Ji, who made India awestruck across the world with his incredible sporting talent. The nation is grateful to you for the heights you have taken hockey in the country and made the country proud.
