Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand will be conferred with the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Lifetime Achivement Award by NRI orgainsation Sanskriti Yuva Sangstha at the House of Commons inside the British Parliament of July 25.
Ashok Chand, son of Major Dhyan Chand, has been invited toLondon to receive the award on his behalf. Dhyan Chand guided India to clinch three successive gold medals in Olympics games and had scored over 400 goals in his international carrier. The hockey wizard who passed away in 1979, has made the country proud on several occasions.
Do You Know?
- Dhyan Chand was known as “The Wizard” for his superb ball control.
- In 1936, after the Berlin Olympics, he was invited by Hitler to join the German team but he denied the offer.
- Dhyan Chand Award is India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
- We celebrate National Sports Day on August 29. This day marks the birthday of Dhyan Chand.
- Chand played his final international match in 1948. India was the most dominant country in Hockey in the era of Dhyan Chand.
- It is rumored Chand used to practice ball control by sprinting along the length of railway tracks while balancing the ball on the track rail.
Rare Video of Wizard’s Game – 1936 Berlin Olympics
Test Your Knowledge
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is observed on ______?