India's Hockey Legend-Major Dhyan Chand

• Full Name- Dhyan Chand
• Profession- Center forward
• Date of Birth - 29 Aug 1905
• Place of Birth- India
• Died- 03 Dec 1979
• Awards & Achievements
• 1928- Gold medal  at the Olympics, held in Amsterdam
• 1932- Gold medal at the Olympics, held in Los Angeles
• 1936- Gold medal at the Olympics, held in Berlin
• 1956- Bestowed with India's third-highest civilian award "Padma Bhushan" by the Government of India

Major Dhyan Chand, the Indian Hockey legend is well-known for the goal-scoring ability that made him earn three gold medals at three consecutive Olympic events, creating history. The iconic personality has served both in Army as well as at the hockey field throughout his life. Widely considered as the magician of hockey, the man had scored around 1000 goals in his active career which is a record feat.

Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August 1905, in the city of "Sangam"- Allahabad to a British Indian Army employee Sameshwar Dutt Singh and Sharadha Singh. Due to his father’s frequent official transfers, he was not able to keep pace with the academics and had to drop down his studies after schooling for just six years. The boy was initially interested in wrestling, but after joining the Indian Army at the age of 16 got more inclined towards field hockey. He used to undergo Army training during the daytime and practiced hockey in the moonlight.

Soon his perseverance paid him a favorable outcome as he was selected in the Indian Army hockey team for the New Zealand tour in 1926. Dhyan Chand left everyone spell-bound with his eye-catching performance, dominating 18 matches out of 21 with his team. In 1928, he earned gold for the nation at the Olympic event, held in Amsterdam. Dhyan Chand's speed and accuracy made him earn the title of "The Wizard" of hockey. He was so accurate and perfect in hockey that he could even sense if there were any flaws in the measurement of the field.

“If you could not get a goal from that you did not deserve to be on my team.” – Major Dhyan Chand

Also Check out - 

 Hockey-The National Game of India

 9 Life Lesson to Learn from Major Dhyan Chand

Take a Look at 10 Interesting Facts About the Legend:

• Born and brought up in Allahabad, Dhyan Chand was called 'Chand' by his fellow people because he would often practice hockey at night under the moonlight, after his duty hours. At the age of 16, he joined the Indian Army.
• During his days in the army, he impressed the observers of the game. Moreover, he was also called for the trials when the newly-formed Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) decided to send a team for the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.
• Successfully, he hit the ground in the Olympics and scored 14 goals in five matches to become the top scorer of the tournament.
• When the Indian team was selected for the 1932 Olympics, Dhyan Chand did not need any trial, and this time his brother Roop Singh also joined the team.
• The Indian Hockey player scored 12 goals in only two games at the Los Angeles Games and was outdone by his brother who had 13 goals.
• Dhyan Chand headed to Berlin as the captain of the Indian Hockey team in the 1936 Olympics games.
• At the end of the Berlin games, he scored a total of 11 goals in five matches. Reportedly, he also played barefoot to up his pace in the second half of the match in Berlin.
• In August 1956, he retired from the Indian Army as a lieutenant and was consequently honored with the Padma Bhushan award, India's third-highest civilian honor.
• Generally, he is also stated as ‘Wizard Major’ Dhyan Chand for his mastery with the stick and the control over the ball.
• Dhyan Chand took his last breath on December 3, 1979. He died due to liver cancer.

Famous Quotes for Major Dhyan Chand:

The following quotes have been said about Major Dhyan Chand by various national and international personalities -

1. "Dhyan Chand is hockey's magician." - Jawaharlal Nehru

2. "Dhyan Chand was a goal machine, a phenomenon who was ahead of his time." - Roelant Oltmans (Former Coach of Indian Hockey Team)

3. "Dhyan Chand was a great hockey player. He had superb ball control and understood the game better than anyone else." - Roop Singh, Dhyan Chand's brother and fellow hockey player

4. “He scores goals like runs in cricket.” – Sir Don Bradman

5. "Hockey ka Bradman." - Viren Rasquinha (Former Indian Hockey Captain)

6. “Major Dhyan Chand was a living example of real sportsmanship and patriotism. He helped India in securing gold medals in Hockey in 3 Olympic games in 1928, 1932, 1936.” – PM Narendra Modi

7. “The Olympic complex now has a magic show too. See Indian magician Dhyan Chand in action at the hockey stadium.” – German Media

8. “His true talent resided above his shoulders, and he approached hockey like a chess game.” – Keshav Dutt

9. "He was the greatest hockey player ever. He used to control the ball so nicely. It is a dream to watch him play. He was like a magician with the stick." - Balbir Singh Sr. (Former Indian Hockey Player)

10. "When I went to meet him (Dhyan Chand) in Jhansi in 1954, he greeted me as if I was the star. This is the greatness of the man." - K. D. Singh Babu (Former Indian Hockey Captain)

11. "Dhyan Chand became a role model and an inspiration to us. He brought recognition to India in the field of hockey. He was not just a hockey player; he was an icon." - Manohar Singh Gill (Former Union Minister and Olympic Hockey Player)

12. " Hockey became a religion in India because to Dhyan Chand." - Dilip Tirkey (Former Indian Hockey Captain)