National Sports Day is a public holiday celebrated in various countries to honor the national sports teams and sports traditions of those countries.On this day people from various age participate in sports like Kabaddi, Marathon, Basketball, Hockey and so on.
History of National Sports Day in India
Every year on August 29, India commemorates its National sports day. The day is celebrated to honor the famous hockey player Dhyan Chand Singh.
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Dhyan Chand Singh Life History
Dhyan Chand was an Indian hockey player extensively regarded as the greatest hockey player in the history of the sport.
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Born in the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh on 29th August 1905, Singh was considered a prodigy in the field of hockey. More famously, throughout the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the outset of World War II, Adolf Hitler was noticeably impressed by seeing this “Hockey ke Jaadugar” at play. Because of his indirect refusal in saluting the great dictator during the hockey finals versus Germany in 1936, the vibrant personality of Dhyan Chand Singh is well remembered. Nevertheless, Hitler was so overwhelmed by Singh and his performance against the Fatherland that he desired to purchase Singh’s hockey stick out of adoration for the three-time Olympic gold medalist.
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He was known for his remarkable goal-scoring abilities. Throughout his carrier, Singh won the Olympic gold medal on 3 events- 1928, 1932 and 1936, sealing his position in the pages of history. His influence extended beyond these victories, as India won the field hockey event in seven out of eight Olympics from 1928 to 1964.
Called The Wizard or The Magician of hockey, Chand played internationally from 1926 to 1949. He scored 570 goals in 185 matches according to his autobiography, Goal.
The Government of India awarded Chand India’s 3rd highest civilian honor of Padma Bhushan in 1956. His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India every year.
Significance of National Sports Day
The day is observed to spread awareness on the significance of sports and daily activities in everyone’s life.
The President of India, on the very same day, honors popular sporting personalities with elite awards consisting of Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand Award.
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The National Sports Awards 2020 will be held virtually for the very first time on August 29 in the history of the awards President of India, Ram Nath Kovind awarded to the award winners in virtual mode.
Indian sports awards
The other crucial occasion that occurs on Dhyan Chand Singh’s birthday is that the Rashtriya Bhawan organizes the Unique Award Event in honor of the sporting heroes. The President of India takes this day to give out the prominent awards like the Arjuna Award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and the Dronacharya Award to the sportsmen who have done the country proud in that year. The Dhyan Chand award is synonymous to the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award in sports and is the greatest amoung the list. Among this year’s notable Arjuna recipients we have Mohammed Anas Yahiya (athletics), Anjum Moudgil (shooting), Ajay Thakur (kabaddi), Sai Praneeth (badminton) and Swapna Barman( athletics) among others.
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The National Sports Day is a gala celebration of sporting skill in our country. Truth be informed, India is packed with people who have the flair for sports, in every nook and cranny of the country. The Rashtriya Khel Divas prioritizes in promoting this skill whereby India can scale higher glories in the worldwide sphere. Most significantly, the day celebrates every sport as an equivalent and the limelight is not cast selectively but shines intense on every one of them, kindling the fire and passion within the athletes anew.
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