National Sports Day

On August 29, India observes National Sport Day annually. Today is Major Dhyan Chand's birthday. He was a well-liked hockey player. Because of his outstanding contributions to the sport, he was often referred to as the "Wizard of Hockey." Major Dhyan Chand is a well-known figure in the sports sector thanks to his numerous achievements, which include three gold medals from the Olympics in hockey. He has also made significant contributions to Indian sports.  Many nations commemorate National Sports Day to acknowledge and promote the value of athletics and physical activity. The significance of this day varies depending on the nation. That being said, India celebrates the most well-known National Sports Day.       

History of National Sports Day 

Major Dhyan Chand Singh's outstanding contributions to hockey are important to the history of National Sports Day in India. His birthday is August 29, 1905. At a very young age, he demonstrated exceptional skill in the game of hockey, earning him the moniker "The Wizard of Hockey." In Indian hockey, he was a major player in the 1920s and 1930s. Not only that, but in 1928 in Amsterdam, 1932 in Los Angeles, and 1936 in Berlin, he won three gold medals for India at the Olympics in a row. 

Importance of National Sports Day in 2025

The following are importance of National Sports Day in 2025: 

Honouring sport heroes - People honour well-known sports luminaries like Major Dhyan Chand and others who have made noteworthy contributions to the country on a global scale on National Sports Day. The younger generation is inspired to pursue a profession in athletics by their perseverance, hard work, devotion, and sacrifices. 

Promoting physical fitness - On this day, individuals of all ages are urged to embrace physical fitness. It also addresses the growing problems of lifestyle-based diseases and sedentary living, placing particular focus on the value of a healthy lifestyle and frequent exercise.    

Various initiatives by Government - In an effort to discover and assist fresh talent, the Indian government also unveiled new sports-related laws, plans, and initiatives on National Sports Day. These actions are intended to provide new athletes with improved training facilities, financial support, and recognition. 

Fostering sports culture - In India, the emergence of a vibrant sports culture is sparked by this day. It also exhorts young people to engage in a variety of games and sports for all-around personal development.    

Unity in diversity - Sports have the unique power to bring people together from all walks of life, regardless of their language or religious beliefs. On National Sports Day, we are reminded of this togetherness and the reality that in sports, skill and determination are the only things that count.

National Sports Day Theme 

National Sports Day is a great opportunity to recognise the spirit of the sportsmanship and inspire physical fitness. There are various ways of celebrating this day and inspires a healthy lifestyle such as participating in physical and sports activities, organising sporting events, casual matches, or outdoor games with family, friends, or co-workers. 

People can also arrange sporting activities in offices or neighbourhoods. Schools and institutions can also organize intra school and intra college tournaments. These competitions, ranging from tug-of-war matches to relay races, can foster community sense while highlighting the need of leading an active lifestyle. 

How did 29 August Emerge as the National Sports Day of India? 

In honour of Major Dhyan Chand, the Indian government decided to declare his birthdate as National Sports Day in 2012. This day is significant because it motivates individuals to regularly engage in physical activity and sporting events. There are many advantages to doing sports, including better sleep, a decreased risk of obesity, heightened cardiovascular fitness, appropriate coordination, strong bones, and improved bodily balance.

National Sports Day Awards and Recognition 

National Sports Awards are conferred by the Central Government at a special occasion held at Rashtrapati Bhavan to recognize sportsmen’s contribution in this segment. 

  1. National Sports Day of India is a great opportunity for the country to recognize the contributions of sports with awards like Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna also known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. 
  2. This award is given to athletes for their remarkable achievements normally to the ones who are the Olympic champions in the year of the Olympic games. 
  3. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was first awarded to the fifth  time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. 
  1. The Arjuna Award is for those who made significant achievements in the previous seasons. 
  2. The other awards conferred are Dhyan Chand Award, and the Dronacharya Award. 
  3. The Dronacharya Award is bestowed to the best Indian as well as International coaches who have contributed for the development of the Indian sports segment. 

National Sports Day Quotes in India 

People who love to play sports and get indulged in physical activities such as football, hockey, badminton, volleyball, and more, let us have a look at the national sports day quotes mentioned below by popular sports personalities. 

  1. Mary Kom- Being a mother of two, if I can win a medal, so can you all. Don't give up; take me as an example. 
  2. Sachin Tendulkar- As far as the World Cup is concerned, it is a process. We don't want to jump to the 50th floor straight away. We must start on the ground floor. 
  3. Rahul Dravid- I have failed at many times, but I never stopped trying. 
  1. PV Sindhu- You have to keep working all the time. How much you learn, there is always room for learning; you will have to keep improving all the time. 
  2. Prakash Padukone- One needs to plan accurately to be at the peak. Anyone can't make the Mistake of reaching the peak or Olympics, a week earlier or a week later. 
  3. Sania Mirza- No tennis player is perfect. Even if you’re world #1, I don’t think, you still have things to improve on, and I’m not even close to that. So I am going to have weaknesses in my game; I am going to have strengths in my game, but I still have time to develop a lot of things, hopefully, and we’ll see how it goes. 
  4. Viswanathan Anand- I keep forcing, I keep learning new things in the game, and so far I have been taking challenges as they come. 
  5. Milkha Singh- It's what I tell everyone - exercise is as important as food. 

FAQs on National Sports Day

  • Why do we celebrate national sports day?

    We celebrate the national sports day to honour hockey legend Dhyan Chand Singh's birth anniversary. 

  • When was the first national sports day celebrated in India?

    For the first time, National Sports Day was included to India's calendar of holidays in 2012.

  • What was the birthplace of Dhyan Chand Singh?

    Prayag raj, UP is the birthplace of Dhyan Chand Singh. 

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