Every year on August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to honor the birthday of the great hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, known as “Hockey Wizard.” A master of dribbling and precision and one of the best sportsman’s who played to promote his teammates, Dhyan Chand lead India to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. National Sports Day is not only an honor to Dhyan Chand’s efforts, but also to remember the discipline, dedication and teamwork values that he demonstrated.
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Promoting Sports and Fitness in India
National Sports Day is not only a day to celebrate Major Dhyan Chand but also to reinforce the spirit of sports and physical activity to build a healthy and robust nation. It is a day when all schools, colleges, and sports bodies and academies all across the country undertake to organize matches, runs, or fitness drives so as to make youngsters participate. The Government of India also presents the sports awards – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna), Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award and Dhyan Chand Award to promote sports and recognize performance to give due recognition to eminent champions and coaches. The broader goal of this is to tap and nurture talent and to inspire youngsters to take up sports as a career and promote sports as a culture of fitness engagement.
A Call to Embrace Sports in Daily Life
National Sports Day is dedicated to everyone, not just athletes. National Sports Day reinforces how adding a form of physical activity to our daily lives can help improve mental health, reduce lifestyle diseases, and build community. If you enjoy a morning jog outside, a game of cricket during lunch with friends, or joining a local fitness challenge, sports encourage all of us to be active and healthy.
