Major Dhyan Chand, the biggest hero of Indian Hockey, is famous all over the world as a hockey wizard. There was some kind of relationship between Hockey Stick and Major that made his fans crazy. Anyone who saw this Indian game once was convinced of their game. Be it German dictator Hitler or Australian veteran Don Bradman. On August 29, the birthday of this legendary hockey legend in India is celebrated as National Sports Day.
Hockey magician Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, now known as Prayagraj. It was famous about Dhyan Chand that when he used to run on the field with the ball, it seemed as if the ball would stick to his hockey stick. The great Indian hockey legend represented India in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games. India won the gold medal in all three Olympics.
How Dhyan Singh became Dhyan Chand
Dhyan Chand, who attained the rank of Major, had joined the Indian Army at the age of just 16. Major Sahib’s real name was not Dhyan Chand but Dhyan Singh. A passion for the game earned Dhyan Singh the name of Dhyan Chand. To improve his game, he used to look for opportunities to practice only and only. He was often seen practicing in Moon light. Seeing him practicing in the light of the moon, his friends added ‘Chand’ to the name which became ‘Chand’.
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Hockey’s ‘wizard’ got its name
Dhyan Chand’s game was such that once the ball came to him, the opponents were left sweating to get it. It was extremely difficult to snatch the ball from them. Dhyan Chand was the highest goalscorer in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Here he scored a total of 14 goals and earned the team a gold medal. After his performance, a local journalist said that the way Dhyan Chand plays is magic. His game is not ‘hockey’ but ‘magic’, and he is the ‘magician’ of hockey.
Dhyan Chand’s hockey stick was investigated in the Netherlands
After receiving the Major Ball, people were suspicious of the way he retained possession for a long time. The Netherlands was suspicious of this talent of Dhyan Chand and it was confirmed by breaking the hockey stick of Dhyan Chand, whether he plays with a magnet.
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Sir Don Bradman was also convinced
Sir Don Bradman of Australia, the greatest batsman in cricket history, was also a fan of Indian hockey legend. Major’s team toured Australia and New Zealand in 1935. Here he played 48 matches scoring a total of 201 goals. Bradman also came to see Dhyan Chand’s match and was stunned when he saw his game. Bradman said after the match, they score goals in hockey, like we score runs in cricket.
Dhyan Chand refused Hitler’s offer
Dhyan Chant, who loved his country, gave a great example of patriotism. During the Berlin Olympics in 1936, Dhyan Chand’s magic was overshadowed. The Indian team won the gold medal by securing first place. Seeing Dhyan Chand’s game, German dictator Hitler was so impressed that he even offered to play for his country. There was also talk of him being reinstated to a higher position in the army, but this hockey magician thought it better to be called Indian.
