National Sports Day (NSD), also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas, is annually observed across India on 29th August to honour the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, one of thе grеatеst fiеld hockеy playеrs in thе history of Indian sports. He was born on 29 August 1905, in Allahabad, British India (now Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh).
- 29th August 2024 marks the celebration of the 13th NSD.
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) requested all the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to organise sporting and fitness activities any 1 day between 26 and 31 August 2024, to celebrate NSD 2024.
Significance:
i.NSD aims to promote physical activity, celebrate sporting culture, and honour notable athletes or events that brought glory to India on the global stage.
ii.NSD underscores the significance of sports, promotes national unity, and a healthy lifestyle, and inspires the younger generation to engage in sports.
Background:
i.In 2012, The Government of India (GoI) declared that 29 August of every year will be observed as National Sports Day, to commemorate the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand.
ii.The 1st NSD was observed on 29 August 2012.
Note: On this Day, the President of India presents various sports awards like the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna), Arjuna Award, Dhyan Chand Award, etc., to rеcognisе and honour еxcеptional athlеtеs, coachеs, and contributors in the field of sports.
About Major Dhyan Chand:
i.Major Dhyan Chand is oftеn referred to as thе “Wizard of Hockеy” for his еxtraordinary control ovеr thе ball.
ii.Major Dhyan Chand joined the Indian Army at 16 and was inducted into the Punjab Regiment in 1922 as a soldier. Between 1922 and 1926, he participated in several army hockey tournaments and regimental games.
iii.In 1926, he was selected to play for the Indian Army hockey team which toured New Zealand.
iv.He represented India and played a major role in India winning 3 consecutive Olympic Gold medals:
- 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands;
- 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, the United States of America (USA); and
- 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
v.On 17 May 1928, the Indian national hockey team made its Olympic debut in Amsterdam, Netherlands and won its country’s 1st Olympic gold medal on 26 May 1928.
- Dhyan Chand led the Indian hockey team as a captain at the Berlin Olympics.
vii.He retired from the Indian Army as a lieutenant in August 1956. He passed away on 3 December 1979 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
Books: His autobiography titled “Goal!” was published by Sport & Pastime, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) in 1952.
Award: In 1956, the GoI honoured him with the Padma Bhushan for Sports.
Honours:
i.The Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games was instituted in 2002, to honour sportspersons who have contributed to sports.
ii.In 2021, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi announced the renaming of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
2024 Events:
i.On 29 August 2024, on the occasion of National Sports Day, Olympian Ashok Kumar, son of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, unveiled his father’s statue in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
ii.The Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board (CCSCSB), under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), organised various events including the Fit India Pledge on 29 August 2024 to mark NSD 2024.
