In December 1934, the IHF wanted to send a team to New Zealand in the new year. Chand and his brother were immediately selected.
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August 29, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand is celebrated as National Sports Day in India as a tribute to the great legend. Over the years, the dynamics of sport has changed, and many greats have come and gone. No one was like Dhyan Chand. His record stands to this day, and the marvels he created with the hockey stick and the ball, not a lot can.
The late hockey player was born on August 29, 1905. With his extraordinary goal-scoring feats, Dhyan Chand earned his name in Indian hockey. He had won three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932, and 1936. His influence extended beyond these victories and India as a nation won eight Olympics from 1928 to 1964.
In December 1934, the IHF wanted to send a team to New Zealand in the new year. Chand and his brother were immediately selected. When Moinuddin Khanji, the Nawab of Manavadar declined to play, Chand was given the captaincy. In the subsequent tour, the team played a total of 48 matches– 28 in New Zealand and the remainder in India, Ceylon and Australia. India won every match, scoring 584 goals and conceding only 40. Of these 48 matches, Chand played 23 and scored a total of 201 goals.
In December 1934, the IHF wanted to send a team to New Zealand in the new year. Chand and his brother were immediately selected. When Moinuddin Khanji, the Nawab of Manavadar declined to play, Chand was given the captaincy. In the subsequent tour, the team played a total of 48 matches– 28 in New Zealand and the remainder in India, Ceylon and Australia. India won every match, scoring 584 goals and conceding only 40. Of these 48 matches, Chand played 23 and scored a total of 201 goals.
India and Germany had a massive clash in the 1936 Berlin Olympics field hockey final on 19 August. Morale in the locker room was already down since they had faced a defeat in the hands of Germany earlier on. After the interval, the Indian team launched an all-out attack, easily defeating Germany 8–1. This game was important since it was the only goal scored against India in the tournament. Newspaper reports recall that Dhyan Chand scored four goals, while he claimed he scored three, in his autobiography Goal, with Ali Dara scoring two, and Roop Singh, Carlyle Tapsell and Sayed Jaffar with one goal each.
Dhyan Chand is one of the most looked upon players in the world of hockey. His skills have been glorified in various stories and anecdotes. Chand’s birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day. The President gives away sport-related awards such as the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dhyan Chand is without a doubt one of the greatest sporting personalities that have ever been there. His exploits from 1928 to 1936 stunned the world, including world leaders. His hockey prowess is the blueprint for dominance in any era. The rechristening of the Khel Ratna is a major tribute. But, he has been short-changed slightly here.
For all the achievements of the wizard, he has never been bestowed with the Bharat Ratna. Naming the annual Sports Day after Dhyan Chand is one of the steps that the Narendra Modi government has taken. But, naming a stadium because it was a ‘pet project’ weakens the Prime Minister’s moves on Dhyan Chand’s legacy. If the Prime Minister had not named Motera stadium after himself, every move that he had made on Dhyan Chand would have been legitimate in many more ways.
