National Sports Day 2021: History and Importance of National Sports Day

National Sports Day 2021: 29th August has been observed as National Sports Day in India. The first National Sports Day was celebrated on 29th August 2012, on the birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand who was the star of the hockey team of India. This day was selected to honor this great hockey player and as an occasion to honor the country’s sporting heroes with recognition awards like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now known as Dhyan Chand Award), Arjuna Award, Dhyan Chand Award, and the Dronacharya Award. On this day, a special ceremony is held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the President of India takes this day to confer these awards to the best sports players. Read the complete article to know more about National Sports Day in India.

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What is the Importance of National Sports Day?

Sports are considered to be the most vital part of Indian society. Along with its benefits in keeping people fit physically and mentally, people enjoy watching sports on TV or live. Every year at schools, colleges, national, and international levels, sports have been played from a different perspective. We have a long list of legends who have made their names worldwide through their sporting skills. Some of the famous names are Major Dhyan Chand (Hockey Wizard), PT Usha (Udhanpari), Sachin Tendulkar (Master Blaster), MS Dhoni (Captain Cool), and many more.

To spread awareness about the importance of sports for staying fit and healthy this day is observed. Along with this, the prominent sports personalities are awarded elite awards like the Dhyan Chand Award, Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Dronachayra Award by the President of India.

History of National Sports Day

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 to spread awareness about the spirit of sportsmanship and propagate the message of various sports. And for this again a tribute was given to Major Dhayan Chand on his birth anniversary and announced 29th August as National Sports Day in India.

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More about Major Dhyan Chand

Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August 1905, in Allahabad and was a great hockey player of his time. He was known as the star or wizard of a hockey player as during his period, his team gained hat-trick of gold medals in Olympics during years- 1928, 1932, and 1936. He played internationally for 23 years from 1926 to 1949. He total played 185 matches in his career and scored 570 goals. He was so passionate about hockey, that he used to practice 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.

How National Sports Day is celebrated?

Every year National Sports Day was celebrated at the Rashtrapati Bhawan where the President of India of that time, gives National Sports Awards to the respective winners who have embraced the value of our flag all over the world. Under the National Sports Award, players and former players are honored with many other awards like Arjuna Award, Dhyan Chand Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, and Dronacharya Award.