Major Dhyanchand is regarded as best hockey player ever …..
Wizard of hockey.
He was born on 29th August 1905 at Prayag in
Uttar Pradesh. Now this day is celebrated as the national sports day. His
father was Subedar in the army. Dhyanchand grew up in Jhansi and joined army in
1922 as a sepoy of Punjab Regiment.
His hockey skills were noticed in 1927 in a match against
the English team at London Folkston festival. He was selected to represent the
Indian hockey team in 1928 summer Olympics at Amsterdam. Dhyanchand scored two
of the three goals that India made and helped India win gold medal in Olympics.
Dhyanchand’s game skill was so outstanding that the ball
appeared to be sticking on his hockey stick. The Tokyo officials even broke his
stick to check any magnet hidden inside. At the next Olympics our team again
struck gold by defeating the US team by 24 – 1. This record is yet to be
broken.
Along with his brother Roop Singh, Dhyanchand formed a
formidable base of the team. He scored 201 goals out of the total 584 goals (in
42 matches) during the 1935 tour of New Zealand and Australia. Dhyanchand was also
fast that Don Bradman commented that ‘He scores goals like runs in cricket.’
He captained our team in 1936 Summer Olympics at Berlin and
scored three of eight goals scored by India. Dictator Adolf Hitler left the
match midway, as he couldn't see his team loosing. It is said that Hitler
called Dhyan chand for a meeting and offered him a post or place in Germany
team. But he refused to leave India.
He continued to play till the age of 42 and retired in 1948,
He is the only sportsperson in India to have his statue erected in his honour.
One in even in sticks, indicating his control over the ball. In 1956 he retired
from the army as a Major. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in same year.
Sadly he was penniless and uncared for his last days. He
died on 3rd December 1979. The government of India has installed a
sports award in his memory.
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