National Sports Day

Context

Every year, National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 on the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would be conducting the ‘Meet The Champion’ initiative in 26 schools across the country.

National Sports Day is also called with the name Rashtriya Khel Divas in some parts of India.
In 1979, the Indian Postal Department paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand after his death and renamed the National Stadium of Delhi as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi.
In 2012, it was announced that a day must be celebrated as National Sports Day with the motive of spreading awareness about the spirit of sportsmanship and propagating the message of various sports.
A tribute was given to Major Dhayan Chand on his birth anniversary and announced 29th August as National Sports Day in India.

Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August 1905, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, as Dhyan Singh, and was well-known in India's pre-independence era.
Dhyan Chand began his hockey career with a regimental team of the British Indian Army and was devoted to his game.
In 1936, he was chosen as the captain of the Indian hockey team.
He became a lieutenant and a captain and was eventually promoted to major.
He was key in assisting India's first Olympic gold medal hat-trick win at 1928, 1932, and 1936 Summer Olympics.

He was so passionate about hockey, that he used to practise for the game at night in the moonlight which led him to the name, Dhyan Chand.
In 1956, Dhyan Chand was awarded Padma Bhushan Award, he was the third civilian to get the honour.
His birth date is celebrated as National Sports Day in India.

Rashtriya Khel Diwas OR National Sports Day’s primary motto is to promote awareness about the importance of sports and being physically active in the daily life of all the citizens: older or younger.