Dhyan Chand
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Major "Dhyan Chand" Singh (1905-08-29–1979-12-03) was a former Indian hockey player and Olympian. Regarded as the best hockey player ever, and mesmerised Adolf Hitler for his exploits in the sport. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour. he got the title "Chand" or (moon) from his first coach, Pankaj Gupta, who predicted he would one day shine like a chand or moon. Dhyan Chand was affectionately called Dadda.
Early life
Dhyan Chand was born to a Rajput family in Prayag in Uttar Pradesh. It appeared that the ball used to stick to his hockey stick while playing. So great was his magic. He was controversially reserved the honor of the world's greatest hockey player ever.National sports day
29 August, his birthday is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India. The President gives away sport-related awards such as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award on this day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
To commemorate his memory, the Government of India has instituted Dhyan Chand Award which is presented each year to those sportspersons who not only contribute through their performance but also contribute to the sport after their retirement.
Fan incidents
Dhyan Chand was a very simple man. Once he played in an exhibition match with a women's team at Prague, after the Olympic Games. A female fan was highly impressed by his game and expressed her desire to kiss him. He stepped back, saying that he was a married person!Once, some time after the Partition of India, Dhyan Chand was seen at the Lahore railway station, on way to Peshawar as a part of the Indian team that was scheduled to take part in Joshan celebrations in Afghanistan. Thousands of his Pakistani fans rushed to the station to catch a glimpse of the wizard. The surging crowds led to breakdown of all arrangements. One of the members of the Indian team, Krishan Kumar Kakar narrated "Such was the scene on all stations right up to Peshawar where the train reached more than four hours behind the schedule."
In 2002, the union sports ministry of India introduced a Lifetime Achievement Award in sports in the name of Dhyan Chand.
References
- [The Indian who captivated even Hitler], Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Rediff.com
- [Feature: Hockey's Genius - Dhyan Chand], Rohit Brijnath, PlanetFieldHockey.com
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