National Sports Day: Quotes, significance, facts, and the top 20 Indian sports players
National Sports Day: Quotes, significance, facts, and the top 20 Indian sports players: National Sports Day all over the world is celebrated on the 29th of August every year. Sports are considered important for the physical and mental well-being of humans. Individuals who play sports are healthy. India has delivered many sporting legends like PT Usha, also known as Udanpari, Sachin Tendulkar, also known as Master Blaster, and Major Dhyan Chand, also known as ‘Hockey Wizard’.
National Sports Day in India is observed to commemorate the birthday of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
Whether it is Virat Kohli hugging Babar Azam or Neeraj Chopra defending Arshad Nadeem, sports have emerged as a way of building better and sustainable relationships. Sports transcend all man-made boundaries. Sports Day is celebrated across the world to honor different kinds of sports.
National Sports Day is a public holiday. This day is observed in different countries to celebrate their national sports players, sports teams, and sports traditions who brought in earned recognition and respect for the country.
The national hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand is the most celebrated hockey player in India. Dhyan Chand won gold medals for India in the Olympics in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
The objective of National Sports Day is to create awareness about physical activity, overall health, and sports. The day glorifies the support of trainers, families, and coaches who created and construct world-class athletes.
National Sports Day 2022: History
India celebrated the first National Sports Day on the 29th of August, 2012. Sports day celebrates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. Widely known as the ‘Hockey Wizard’ and ‘The Magician’, Major Dhyan Chand was born on the 29th of August 1905.
National Sports Day 2022 Significance
The primary objective of National Sports Day is to promote awareness about the significance of sports. It is celebrated to spread awareness about being physically active in the day to day life. The Government of India organizes various programs, events, seminars, etc in order to raise awareness about the importance of National Sports Day.
Major Dhyan Chand
Widely known as ‘Wizard of Hockey’, the greatest Indian hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand Singh, was born on the 29th of August 1905 in present-day Praygraj, UP. After getting a basic education, Dhyan Chand went on to join the Indian army as a soldier in 1922.
Major Dhyan Chand has been an example of a true sportsperson. He was motivated by Subedar Major Tiwari to play hockey. Subedar Major Tiwari was himself a sports lover. Dhyan Chand began to play hockey under his supervision.
Owing to his outstanding performance in Hockey, Dhyan Chand was appointed as ‘Lance Naik’ in the year 1927. He was promoted to the position of Nayak in 1932, and Subedar in 1936. The same year he was given the honor to be the captain of the Indian hockey team. He was honored with the position of Lieutenant, and Captain and was eventually promoted to Major.
The performance of Major Dhyan Chand
Major Dhyan Chand was a great and commendable hockey player. If a ball is stuck in his stick, it has to score a goal. This was the reason that once his stick was broken during a match to analyze whether the stick has any magnet inside it that never leaves the ball.
Major Dhyan Chand was included in the three-time Olympic gold medalist Indian Hockey Team. At the Berlin Olympic Games of 1936, Dhyan Chand was given the captaincy of the Indian Hockey team.
Major Dhyan Chand has to his name a score of more than 400 international goals in his career from 1926 to 1948. He scored nearly 1,000 goals in his entire career journey.
Interesting facts about the legend
- Dhyan Chand was born and brought up in Allahabad. Dhyan Chand was called ‘Chand’ by his fellow people because he used to practice hockey at night under the moonlight, after his duty hours. At the age of 16, he went to join the Indian Army.
- During his days in the army, he impressed the observers of the hockey game. Moreover, he was called for trials in the newly-formed Indian Hockey Federation (IHF). The Indian Hockey Federation decided to send a team for the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.
- Successfully, Dhyan Chand hit the ground in the Olympics and scored 14 goals in five matches, and became the top scorer of the tournament.
- When the Indian team was selected for the 1932 Olympics, Dhyan Chand went through no trial. This time, his brother, Roop Singh, was also a part of the team.
- The Indian Hockey player acquired 12 goals in only two games at the Los Angeles Games. Dhyan Chand was outdone by his brother who scored 13 goals.
- Dhyan Chand went to Berlin as the captain of the Indian Hockey team playing in the 1936 Olympics games.
- At the end of the Berlin games, Dhyan Chand acquired a total of 11 goals in five matches. Reportedly, he played barefoot to increase his pace in the second half of the match in Berlin.
- In August 1956, he retired from the Indian Army holding the position of lieutenant. He was consequently honored with the Padma Bhushan award which is India’s third-highest civilian honor.
- He has been given the name ‘Wizard Major’. Dhyan Chand is honored for his mastery with the stick and the control over the ball.
- Dhyan Chand took his last breath on the 3rd of December 1979. Major Dhyan Chand took his last breath submitting to liver cancer.
To pay tribute to such a legendary player, the Government of India chose to celebrate his birthday as National Sports Day in 2012.
Before this recognition, Dhyan Chand was awarded the Padma Bhushan Award by the Government of India in the year 1956. The Padma Bhushan Award is the third-largest civilian honor in India.
National Sports Day Celebration
National Sports Day is glorified extensively at the national level. It is organized every year in the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the President of India gives away National Sports Awards to the outstanding players of the country. In 2020, the awards were presented using the virtual/digital form due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the National Sports Award, players and former players are celebrated with awards such as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Dronacharya Award. Along with all these honors, the “Dhyan Chand Award” is also presented on this day.
After the death of Major Dhyan Chand in the year 1979, the Indian Postal Department paid tribute to him by issuing stamps in his honor. As a tribute to him, the National Stadium of Delhi was renamed Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi.
Quotes
“When people throw stones at you, you turn them into milestones.” — Sachin Tendulkar
“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” — Simone Biles
“Passion first and everything will fall into place.” — Holly Holm
“It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, and waves pound the sand. I beat people up.” — Muhammed Ali
“Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.” — Bethany Hamilton
“I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.” — Kobe Bryant
“I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.” — Bruce Jenner
“Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t pretend that you do and, and some point, you will.” — Venus Williams
“Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” — Michael Jordan
“Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.” — Doug Williams
“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t win’ is you, and you don’t have to listen” — Jessica Ennis Hill
“If I have a reason to do something, and I have enough passion, I generally succeed.” — Leander Paes
“You control your wins and losses.” — Maria Sharapova
Top 20 Indian Sports Players
Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket): Cricket is followed as the religion in India. Sachin Tendulkar is considered the God. Tendulkar is the highest-run scorer owning 100 International centuries.
Anil Kumble (Cricket): The tall guy from Karnataka, Anil Kumble has been the best leg-spinner in the 2000s. He owns the record of 619 wickets which is still unbroken.
Virat Kohli (Cricket): Virat Kohli is considered the second-best Indian batsman with numerous records. Kohli is often dubbed the modern-day Tendulkar.
Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw): The 24-year-old Neeraj Chopra emerged victorious attaining a gold for India in the Tokyo Olympics.
Mithali Raj (Cricket): Mithali Raj has been the highest run scorer in Women’s One Day International cricket.
Jhulan Goswami (Cricket): Jhulan Goswami owns the record as the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODI cricket.
PT Usha (Athletics): PT Usha is considered the “Queen of Indian track field”. She has to her name 4 Asian gold medals and 7 Silver medals.
PV Sindhu( Badminton): PV Sindhu belongs to a group of the best Indian badminton player with multiple records, including Olympic medals.
Saina Nehwal (Badminton): Saina Nehwal is India’s flagbearer in Badminton and was the same for more than a decade.
Sania Mirza (Lawn Tennis): Sania Mirza had been one of the leading women icons in Tennis for India.
Mary Kom (Boxing): Mary Kom is the leading boxer in the women’s category from India. She owns many medals.
Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting): Mirabai Chanu is a name in weightlifting that is making India proud by consistent medal-winning performance.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Cricket): Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the ‘Captain Cool’, is the only Indian captain to win all the trophies. He is considered the best-finishing batsman India has ever produced.
Harbhajan Singh (Cricket): Harbhajan Singh was an Indian spin bowler who has taken retirement. He represented India globally showcasing his unique bowling action.
Yuvraj Singh (Cricket): Yuvraj Singh holds a record of hitting six sixes for India under his wings in the T20 world cup. Yuvraj Singh won man of the tournament in the ODI World Cup 2011 for his commendable performance.
Baichung Bhutia( Football): Baichung Bhutia was a name in India’s renowned faces in Football. He used to captain the Indian football team.
Sunil Chhetri (Football): Sunil Chhetri is India’s leading goal-scorer and is even compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for his scoring ability.
Leander Paes (Tennis): Leander Paes is a retired tennis player from India who has many accolades in Tennis.
Mahesh Bhupati (Tennis): Mahesh Bhupati is a former tennis player from India. Bhupati was ranked no 1 in men’s doubles being partnered with Leander Paes.
Geeta Phogat (Wrestling): Geeta Phogat is a freestyle wrestler from India. Phogat won the country’s first-ever gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in the year 2010 in Delhi.
List of Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captains in Olympics and their ranks
| Captain Name | Olympics | Rank in Olympic |
| 1. Jaipal Singh Munda | Amsterdam Olympics 1928 | Gold medal |
| 2. Lal Shah Bokhari | Los Angeles Olympics 1932 | Gold medal |
| 3. Dhyan Chand | Berlin Olympics 1936 | Gold medal |
| 4. Kishan Lal | London Olympics 1948 | Gold medal |
| 5.K. D. Singh | Helsinki Olympics 1952 | Gold medal |
| 6. Balbir Singh Senior | Melbourne Olympics 1956 | Gold medal |
| 7.Leslie Claudius | Rome Olympics 1960 | Silver medal |
| 8. Charanjit Singh | Tokyo Olympics 1964 | Gold medal |
| 9. Gurbux Singh and10. Prithipal Singh | Mexico City Olympics 1968 | Bronze medal |
| 11.Harmik Singh | Munich Olympics 1972 | Bronze medal |
| 12. Ajit Pal Singh | Montreal Olympics 1976 | 7th Position |
| 13. Vasudevan Baskaran | Moscow Olympics 1980 | Gold medal |
| 14. Zafar Iqbal | Los Angeles Olympics 1984 | 5th Position |
| 15. Sommayya Maneypande | Seoul Olympics 1988 | 6th Position |
| 16. Pargat Singh | Barcelona Olympics 1992 | 7th Position |
| 16.Pargat Singh | Atlanta Olympics 1996 | 8th Position |
| 17.Ramandeep Singh | Sydney Olympics 2000 | 7th Position |
| 18. Dilip Tirkey | Athens Olympics 2004 | 7th Position |
| 19. Bharat Chetri | London Olympics 2012 | 12th Position |
| 20. P. R. Sreejesh | Rio Olympics 2016 | 8th position |
| 21. Manpreet Singh | Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Semifinals |