National Sports Day 2023: Celebrating Dhyan Chand on Hockey wizard’s birth anniversary

Sportstar pays tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on his 118th birth anniversary. It reflects on his timeless contributions to Indian sports and his role in shaping the nation’s identity in the realm of athletics.

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Dhyan Chand, the wizard of Indian hockey, in the 1930s.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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Brothers Dhyan Chand and Roop Singh enjoy a bout of practice years after retirement – in 1966.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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Four members of the Indian hockey contingent, including legend Dhyan Chand (bottom right), that won the 1936 Olympic gold medal in Berlin peering out of a train window at Liverpool.

Photo: Getty Images

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The iconic Dhyan Chand.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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Dhyan Chand with the ball in the 1932 Olympics match against the US, which India won by 24 goals to 1.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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The Indian hockey team with the mayor of Nairobi (fourth from left). Dhyan Chand is to his right.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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The Indian hockey team that sailed for East Africa from Bombay on December 6, 1947. Dhyan Chand, the captain, is standing fifth from left.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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A 35 paise commemorative stamp issued on December 3, 1980, to commemorate the first death anniversary of Dhyan Chand on November 27, 1980.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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Dhyan Chand (left) and Balbir Singh, who was a member of the 1948, '52 and 56' gold medal-winning Olympic teams.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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Dhyan Chand with trainees under his charge at a hockey coaching camp at the Corporation Stadium in Madras on March 16, 1958.

Photo: The Hindu Photo Library

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On the occasion of Major Dhyan Chand’s 118th birth anniversary, celebrated as National Sports Day every year on August 29, Sportstar delves into the legacy of the legendary hockey player.

Dhyan Chand’s name is synonymous with excellence and unparalleled skill in the world of sports. His remarkable feats on the hockey field, marked by impeccable ball control and astonishing goal-scoring ability, earned him the moniker “The Wizard” and elevated India to new heights on the global sporting stage.