National Sports Day, or Rashtriya Khel Divas, is an annual observance that falls on August 29. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the hockey wizard of India. The purpose behind the observance of National Sports Day is to celebrate the legacy of Major Dhyanchand while creating awareness about the need and benefits of incorporating sports and physical activities into our day to life. The nation celebrates the day honouring our sports stars. The president gives away sports awards such as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Dhyan Chand Awards on this occasion.
Notably: Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
National Sports Day 2022: Significance
Rashtriya Khel Diwas OR National Sports Day’s primary motto is to promote awareness about the importance of sports and being physically active in the daily life of all the citizens: older or younger.
National Sports Day: History
In 1979, the Indian Postal Department paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand after his death and renamed the National Stadium of Delhi as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi. In 2012, it was announced that a day must be celebrated as National Sports Day with the motive of spreading awareness about the spirit of sportsmanship and propagating the message of various sports. And for this again a tribute was given to Major Dhayan Chand on his birth anniversary and announced on 29th August as National Sports Day in India.
Important and interesting facts about Dhyan Chand:
- He was awarded India’s third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan in 1956. His original name was Dhyan Singh.
- The nickname ‘Chand’ got stuck to his name as he used to practise all night in the moonlight (called Chand in Hindi).
- He breathed his last on December 3, 1979, in Delhi having slipped into a coma.
