Why is Major Dhyan Chand called "the magician of hockey"

 

The date of August 29 is recorded as many important events in the history of the country and the world. This date has historical significance in the context of sports in India. Major Dhyan Chand alias Dadda, the great hockey player who brought India's name to the country and the world, was born on this date in 1905. His birthday is celebrated as Sports Day in India. Apart from him, in 1949, a top scientist of India, K. Radhakrishnan was born. He led the Mars mission and India got success in sending Mangalyaan to Mars in the very first attempt.

Major Dhyan Chand is a witness to the golden era of hockey in India. He dominated traditional Asian hockey with his sport, giving India a golden success in the hockey event of the Olympic Games. He was a true player and was inspired by Subedar Major Tiwari to play hockey. Dhyan Chand started playing hockey under his supervision. The birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand, who snatched the ball from the possession of the opposition players, is celebrated as 'National Sports Day in the country, and the players are decorated with various awards. Due to his outstanding performance in hockey, he was appointed as 'Lance Nayak' in 1927 and then became a Subedar. In the same year, he captained the Indian hockey team. He became a lieutenant, then a captain, and was eventually promoted to major.

When Dhyan Chand's stick was broken

Major Dhyan Chand was such a skilled player of hockey that when he played, the ball would stick to his hockey stick and people would doubt that he had put something on his stick. Due to his style of playing hockey, people used to call him the magician of hockey. Major Dhyan Chand is a well-known name in hockey, which is known to every child. He has been an important contributor to the recognition of sports like hockey. There were many ups and downs in the life of this great player, but he never left any gap in his sportsmanship. Major Dhyanchand's speed and agility as a center forward were so tremendous that during his lifetime he was called the magician of hockey. In Holland, once his stick was broken and it was seen whether there was a magnet in it.

Died on 3 December 1979

Major Dhyan Chand studied at Aligarh Muslim University and graduated from Victoria College Gwalior in 1932. He spent the last moments of his life in Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh). Major Dhyan Chand died on 03 December 1979 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. His last rites were performed at Heroes Maidan in Jhansi.

Major Dhyan Chand brought laurels to the country by winning a gold medal at the Amsterdam Olympics in 1928, an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in 1932, and a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. A German newspaper headline at the 1936 Olympics was - There's magic on the Olympic complex now. …and the next day the posters on the streets of Berlin read – Go to the hockey stadium and see the magic of the Indian magician. After this, German dictator Adolf Hitler invited Dhyanchand to play from Germany.

Major Dhyan Chand's Award

• In 1956, Dhyan Chand was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's second highest honor.
• His birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day.
• The postage stamp was started in the memory of Dhyan Chand.
• Dhyan Chand National Stadium was built in Delhi.
• Awarded Bharat Ratna Award in 2014.