(Daily News Scan - DNS English) National Sports Day - 29th August
Important Points:
In India sports has been the part of our life since the ancient times. Sport teaches us discipline and brings continuity in our work. It is also one of the best ways for entertainment and diverts our mind from the hustle & bustle of the everyday work. Sports enhance the concentration level and memory power, filling our minds with positivity. Indians are very much interested in sports, working hard to bring medals and glory to the nation. Now a day’s, even the rural people are getting opportunities and they are excelling in their specific sports field. To mark the importance of sports and birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan CHAND; 29 of August is celebrated as National Sports DAY in India.
In today’s DNS we will know about Major Dhyan Chand his achievements and India’s effort to promote sports in the country.
Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905 in Allahabad. He joined the Indian Army at the age of 16 and started his hockey journey from there. He is nicknamed as the hockey wizard of INDIA, and is known as one of the greatest hockey players of all times in the Indian history. He won three gold Olympic medals in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936.
During his career in hockey; INDIA won seven events out of eight events of Olympics from 1928 to 1964. He even captained the Indian team at the 1936 games in Berlin. Dhyan Chand played his final match in the year 1948, scoring more than 400 goals in his international career. The government of India honored him with Padma Bhushan in the year 1956. After his retirement from the Indian army from the post of Major; he took the post of chief hockey coach at the National Institute of Sports Patiala.
Every year on 29 August the President gives away sports related award like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and the Dronacharya award at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. In the year 2012, the Gem of India award was conferred on Dhyan Chand, awarded by the Union Minister of India and it was received by his son.
Every year Dhyan Chand award is given for the lifetime achievement in sports to people who contribute to sports by their performance as well as after their retirement. In the year 2002 National Stadium in Delhi was renamed Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in his honor. Not only in India but also internationally Dhyanchand is famous. The Astro-Truf hockey pitch at the India Gymkhana in London was named after him.
In the year 1982 Sports Ministry was formed and later in 1985 renamed as Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. To promote sports in the country National Sports Policy was formulated in the year 1984. In the same year Sports Authority of India was setup under Central Government to promote sports and games in India.
The Indian government is boosting upcoming talents in various games. The government has launched Khelo India scheme, National sports University, Training centre for Para Athelets, Sports talent search portal and many others facilities to promote sports among youth. Khelo India Youth Games is a national level multidisciplinary grass root game held annually for two categories- under 17 for school students and under 21 for college students. Every year 1000 students will be given scholarships for 8 years to prepare themselves for the international sporting events. Under this even the trainers will be trained in batches for a specific period.
The government is focusing to promote sports culture in India with upliftment of young talent in sports to come out and shine around the world.
