Happy Birthday Dhyan Chand – The wizard of hockey after whom National Sports Day is named

WRITTEN BY DNA Web Team | Updated: Aug 29, 2020, 08:44 AM IST

Dhyan Chand scored over 400 goals in a 22-year career for Indian hockey and he is often termed the Wizard for his sheer ability and consistency that saw India win Olympic gold medals in the sport from 1928 to 1956.

Dhyan Chand, who would have turned 115 on August 29, is considered as one of the greatest hockey players in history and his achievements led to this day being called National Sports Day. However, Dhyan Chand has still not been bestowed with the Bharat Ratna and the demand keeps growing every single day.

August 29 is Dhyan Chand’s birthday. It is also National Sports Day. It is on this day that sportspersons are awarded the Khel Ratna, the Dronacharya and Arjuna Awards by the President of India. This year, the awards will be presented virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Five sports personalities have gotten the prestigious Khel Ratna and they are cricketer Rohit Sharma, Paralympian gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu, Table Tennis player Manika Batra, Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and India women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal. The Arjuna Award will be bestowed on 27 sporting personalities while 15 people will be awarded the Dhyan Chand award for their lifetime contribution in the development of sports.

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However, for Dhyan Chand, every year there is a growing demand from a legion of his fans as to why he is not being conferred the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country. Dhyan Chand’s feats in the hockey field are nothing short of extraordinary.

The legend of Dhyan Chand

Dhyan Chand helped India to three Olympic gold medals in the years – 1928, 1932 and 1936. He had scored over 400 goals in 22 years, spanning from 1926 to 1948. He was bestowed with India’s third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan in 1956 while the Major Dhyan Chand Award is the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in India. However, there is still one major award that has eluded Dhyan Chand and there is a demand that he be given this honour even today.

During the launch of the Fit India movement in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "On this day a great sportsperson was born, Major Dhyan Chand. He amazed the world with his his fitness, stamina, and hockey stick." Dhyan Chand put India on the sporting world map. India got their first gold medals in hockey all due to Dhyan Chand and his excellence. With every year, the genius of Dhyan Chand has transcended generations and eras.