29 August: National Sports Day
The National Sports Day is observed every year across India on 29 August to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand who was born on 29 August 1905.
On this occasion, President Pranab Mukherjee conferred National Sports Awards on sports person at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Recipients of 2016 National Sports Awards are
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: PV Sindhu (Badminton), Sakshi Malik (Wrestling), Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics) and Jitu Rai (Shooting). For more details: Click here
About Major Dhyan Chand
- The legendary hockey player was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
- He 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.
- He is mostly remembered for his extraordinary goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning 3 Olympic gold medals in field hockey in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles) and 1936 (Berlin).
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Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016