29 August: National Sports Day
Every year August 29 is being observed as National Sports Day across the country.
Significance: The day marks the birth anniversary of Hockey Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand. On this day National Sports awards including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards and Dronacharya Awards are bestowed upon sports personalities by the President of India.
About Major Dhyan Chand
- He was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
- The legendary player is widely considered as the greatest field hockey player of all time. He had started playing hockey only after joining the Army at the age of 16.
- He was famously known as ‘The Wizard’ for his superb ball control and had scored more than 1000 goals during his international career.
- Chand is mostly remembered for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning 3 Olympic gold medals in field hockey in 1928 (Amsterdum), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin).
Related Posts
Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015