Every year on 29 August India celebrates its National Sports Day. This day is celebrated in honor of the great hockey player Major Dhyan Chand Singh. The day is celebrated to spread awareness on the importance of sports and daily activities in everyone’s life.
Major Dhyanchand, the all-time great hockey player who brought laurels to India in the world, was born in 1905 on August 29 in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Dhyanchand, the star player of the Indian hockey team that dominated the game of hockey in the years before World War II, was a key player. He was instrumental in helping India win three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1928, 1932 and 1936. After this he announced his retirement.
Dhyanchand had mastered this game. He was so adept at keeping the ball under his control that he was called the ‘Wizard of Hockey’. Dhyan Chand started playing hockey during his tenure with the then British Indian Army and between 1922 and 1926 he participated in several army hockey tournaments and regimental games. National Sports Day is celebrated in India on every date of his birthday.
What is National Sports Awards of India?
Khel Ratna Award
The Khel Ratna, considered India’s highest sporting honour, was instituted in 1991-92 as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, before it was renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021. Khel Ratna is awarded for outstanding performance in sports. duration of four years and the winners get a medal, a certificate and a cash prize.
other awards
Arjuna Award is given for consistently good performance over a period of four years.
Dronacharya Award It is given to the coaches who have produced medal winners in prestigious international events.
Major Dhyanchand Award is given for good performance and contribution in the promotion of sports.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy awarded to the University for the top performance in the Inter-University Tournament in the last one year.
Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is given to organizations and individuals for playing a role in the field of sports promotion and development in the last three years.
Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of adventure activities or sports on land, sea and air.
Schemes for Promotion of Sports in India
The Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Modi on 29 August on the occasion of National Sports Day 2019.
Khelo India Scheme
Khelo India scheme was launched in 2016
Sports Talent Search Portal
Sports Talent Search Portal was launched in August 2017 to find the best talent among the youth of India.
The portal allows the youth to upload their achievements.
Applicants who get shortlisted are called for trials and eligible candidates get a chance to participate in Sports Authority of India (SAI) schemes.
National Sports Development Fund
The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was formed by the then government in November 1998 to promote sports in India.
The fund was established under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 to manage funds for sports activities, tournaments, competitions, infrastructure and training of sportspersons.
High level committee to address the grievances of women players
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports constituted a committee under the chairmanship of AS&FA to address and resolve grievances and complaints of women sportspersons on the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8) in 2017.
The committee comprises athletes, lawyers, a senior official from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and a sports journalist. All the members of the committee are women.
Empowered Steering Committee on Sports
The Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) was formed in January 2017 on the recommendations of the Olympic Task Force.
The committee is responsible for preparing a comprehensive action plan for effective participation of Indian sportspersons in the Olympic Games of 2024 (Paris) and 2028 (Los Angeles) beyond 2020 (Tokyo).
