Dhyan Chand is widely regarded as the best hockey player of all time. His scoring abilities were phenomenal and opposition defenders were often made to sit ducks in front of the India magician.
Dhyan Chand played a key role in India winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India and President Rajiv Gandhi presents awards like Khel Ratna, Arjuna and others. On this day Dronacharya presents the award.
Chand joined the Indian Army at the age of 16 and took up hockey while he was still enrolled. Since Dhyan Singh practiced a lot at night, he was nicknamed “Chand” by his fellow players; His practice sessions at night always coincided with coming out of the moon. Chand means moon in Hindi.
Dhyan Chand was the leading goalscorer in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics with 14 goals. A news report about India’s victory said, “It is not a game of hockey, but magic. Dhyan Chand is indeed the magician of hockey.”
Even though Dhyan Chand has been involved in many memorable matches, he considers a particular hockey match to be his best. “If anyone asked me which was the best match I played, I would say without hesitation that it was the 1933 Beaton Cup final between Calcutta Customs and Jhansi Heroes.”
In the 1932 Summer Olympics, India defeated the USA 24–1 and Japan 11–1. Dhyan Chand scored 12 goals while his brother Roop Singh scored 13 out of 35 goals scored by India. Due to this they came to be called ‘Hockey Twins’.
Once, when Dhyan Chand was unable to score in a match, he argued with the match referee about the measurement of the goal post. To everyone’s surprise, he was right; The goal post was found to be in violation of the official minimum width prescribed under international rules.
He helped India win 3 consecutive gold medals in 1928, 1932
After India’s first match at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, people watching other sporting events thronged the hockey stadium. A German newspaper carried a banner headline: ‘There is now a magic show in the Olympic complex.’ There were posters all over the city of Berlin: “Visit the hockey stadium to see the Indian magician Dhyanchand in action.”
According to widespread reports, German dictator Adolf Hitler offered Dhyanchand German citizenship and a position in the German army after his impressive performance at the Berlin Olympics. The Indian magician rejected this offer.
Sir Don Bradman also praised Major Dhyan Chand a lot.
Australian great Don Bradman met Dhyan Chand in Adelaide in 1935. After watching him play, Bradman commented, “He scores goals like runs in cricket”.
Dhyan Chand has scored more than 400 goals in his career of 22 years (1926-48).
Hockey officials in the Netherlands once broke his hockey stick to check if there was a magnet inside.
Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards
Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2021 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on November 13.
Wrestler Ravi Kumar, Boxer Lovlina Borgohain, Hockey player Sreejesh PR, Para-shooter Avani Lekhara, Para-athletics Sumit Antil, Para badminton player Pramod Bhagat, Cricketer Mithali Raj, Football player Sunil Chhetri and Hockey player Manpreet Singh were also honored with Major Meditation. to be done. Chand Khel Ratna Award 2021.
The awardees received President Ram Nath Kovind. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the outstanding and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson during a period of last four years.