New Delhi: It’s that time of the year again when India celebrates the National Sports Day every year on August 29 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of India’s greatest sportsperson, Major Dhyan Chand. Born on August 29, 1905 (120 years back), Dhyan Chand continues to inspire the Indians who celebrate his birthday with sporting spirit to honour his legacy.
Dhyan Chand is regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, and his legacy is celebrated due to the contribution he made to Indian hockey and Indian sports overall. The hockey icon played a key role in India’s hat-trick of gold medals in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympics. With his artistic play, he not only mesmerised the Indian fans but also wowed the global audience.
The hockey wizard passed away on December 3, 1979, in New Delhi.
The “Wizard of Hockey”
In 185 international games, Dhyan Chand scored a whopping 570 goals. When India thumped Germany 8-1 in the 1936 Olympic final, Adolf Hitler offered him a senior post in the German Army, but Dhyan Chand, the true patriot he was, said no.
He was branded the “magician of hockey”, with his superb stick control forcing the Dutch hockey authorities to take extreme measures by breaking his stick to check if that contained some magnet
His birthday is aptly celebrated as the National Sports Day, and the “Wizard of Hockey” recieved special tributes from politicians and sportspersons.
PM Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt greetings to the nation on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Greetings on National Sports Day! On this special occasion, we pay tribute to Major Dhyan Chand Ji, whose excellence continues to inspire generations.
In the last decade, India’s sporting landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. From grassroots programmes that…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2025
Here are some more reactions on social media
Tributes to hockey wizard, #MajorDhyanChand on his birth anniversary, celebrated as #NationalSportsDay. The legendary hockey player mesmerized sports lovers with his unmatched hockey skills and passion for sporting excellence. His legacy will continue to inspire sportspersons for… pic.twitter.com/OLsiXorMCV
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 29, 2025
He mesmerised the whole world with his magic like no other – Major Dhyan Chand! #NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/41Q0yKyFUy
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 29, 2025
National Sports Day is a celebration of discipline, teamwork, and the spirit of sportsmanship that unites us all.
On this day, we pay tribute to the Hockey Wizard Major Dhyan Chand, whose brilliance continues to inspire generations. His legacy reminds us that sports are not just… pic.twitter.com/3fR7nw4lXZ
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) August 29, 2025
The National Sports Day is also marked across the country with events encouraging fitness, mass participation in sports, and recognition of athletes’ contributions.