New Delhi, Aug 29: Greeting the citizens on the occasion of National Sports Day (August 29), Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt tribute to the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary.
In a post on social media, PM Modi emphasised the importance of recognising all those who have passionately contributed to sports and proudly represented India on the global stage.
Modi reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting sports at all levels to create an ecosystem where every young Indian can aspire to play and shine.
“Greetings on National Sports Day. Today we pay homage to Major Dhyan Chand Ji. It is an occasion to compliment all those passionate about sports and those who have played for India.
“Our Government is committed to supporting sports and ensuring more youth are able to play and shine,” he wrote on X.
The National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand.
Dhyan Chand, is popularly known as “The Wizard” for his magical touch, superb control, creativity and extraordinary goal-scoring feats in hockey. He was instrumental in taking Indian hockey to greater heights.
The late hockey player led India to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He scored over 400 goals in 22 years, spanning from 1926 to 1948.
He was bestowed with India's third-highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan in 1956. The noteworthy memorial for him is the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award for lifetime achievement in sports in India.
