Ten Facts about Major Dhyan Chand Every Indian Must Know About:

1.     His name is - Dhyan Singh, not Dhyan Chand

We all must know, Dhyan Chand’s original name was Dhyan Singh. His fellow players noticed him playing during the night as he waited for the moon to rise so Major Chand can have a better visibility on the field. So from then on his fellow mates started calling him “Chand”.

2.     Indian Army Major

Source: Sports Unfolded

He became the Major in Indian Army at the age of 16. And he retired in 1956, at the age of 51. In the year of his retirement the government honored him by giving him Padma Bhushan Award, which is the India’s 3^rd biggest civilian award.

3.     “Magician of the game of Hockey”

Dhyan Chand was a very dedicated player; he took all the challenges in hand while practicing. He practiced by running along the path of railway track while he balanced the ball on the track.

4.   Was there a magnet in his stick?

Source: Paytm

His ball never left his stick, which caused suspicion in the mind of the opposite team Netherland. The authorities in Netherland broke his stick to inspect and look for any magnets in them. Well, they didn’t find anything inside.

5.  The brave time when said ‘No’ to Hitler

Source:Paytm

Well this one is the hit news; many of you might already know it. During the Berlin Olympics in 1936. A huge amount of viewers were gathered to watch Dhyan Chand play because of his magic on the field.
That also drew the attention of Hitler. Adolf Hitler was immensely impressed by this player that he offered him the Germany’s Nationality and also offered him the rank of Colonel in his German Army. Our brave and magical star Dhyan Chand Politely Refused his offer.

6.    What a Lesson he taught to Germans!

Source:Indian Express

A lot of things happened in 1936 Berlin Olympics; during a match, Dhyan Chand had a rough collision with the harsh German goalkeeper- Tito Warnholtz that broke his tooth. Dhyan Chand strategized with his fellows and when he returned to the field after getting the medical treatment the players taught the Germans a lesson by not scoring any goal.

7.   Come on! Its not the fault of Dhyan Chand if he didn’t score, it’s all the goal post’s fault

Once during a hockey game, Dhyan Chand wasn’t able to score a single goal. He got frustrated and argued with the referee saying that the measurement of the goal post isn’t correct. 
And to everyone’s amazement, it did really turn out to be true under the international rules. 

8.  How epic might be the moment when the ‘The Wizard’ of Hocley Met ‘The Don of the cricket’

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The most epic moment- the greatest player of cricket “Don Bradman” And our greatest player of hockey “Dhyan Chand” met.

Bradman Acclaimed “He scores goals like runs in cricket!”

9.  1000 Goals Scorer- Wow! What a record.

During Dhyan Chand astounding career from1926 to1948, he scored over 1000 goals.
He was also the reason that led India to win 3 Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

10. A Tube Station named after Major Dhyan Chand

Along with the other past and present- 358 Olympic heroes of the world, tube station got named after Dhyan Chand in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Awards & Achievements:

• Won 3 Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936) in field of hockey
• His own birthday, 29th August, is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India.
• The President also gives away awards such as- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dronacharya awards on 29^th
• In 1956, the Government of India awarded him the third highest (then used to be second highest) civilian honour of Padma Bhushan.