National Sports Day: 29 August 2023 Facts and Highlights

May 08, 2023

National Sports Day

National Sports Day is celebrated to commemorate sports celebrities for their contribution in the field of sports. Different countries in the world celebrate National Sports Day on different days.

National Sports Day: 29 August 2023

In India, National Sports Day is celebrated on 29th August every year to commemorate the contribution of sports celebrities. The 29th August was chosen as National Sports Day to give due respect to Major Dhyan Chand who was legendry hockey player. It is celebrated every year on his birth anniversary. He was born on 29 August 1905. He was the best hockey player in the world. He won Gold Medal three times in Olympic Games for India in 1928, 1932 and 1936. He is a legendary figure in Indian Sports.

Major Dhyan Chand Award which is also known as Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievements in Sports and Games is most noted memorial for him. First time it was awarded to Shahuraj Birajdar, Ashok Diwan, Aparna Ghosh in the year 2002.

Recently, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports renamed Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Now from 6th August 2021 Khel Ratna Award is called as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.