Dhyan Chand was the poster boy of Indian hockey for decades with three Olympic gold medals.In India Dhyan Chand’s birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day.
| Birth Name : Dhyan Singh | |
| Nickname(s) : The Wizad,The Magician | |
| Born : 29 August 1905 | |
| Birth Place : Allahabad, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India | |
| Present-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India | |
| Died : 3 December, 1979 (Aged 74) | |
| AIIMS, New Delhi, India | |
| Awards : Padma Bhushan (1956) | |
| Medals : Field hockey at the 1936 Summer Olympics-Men’s tournament | |
| Height : 169 cm(5 ft 7 inch) | |
| Playing Position : Centre-forward | |
| National team | |
| Years Team Apps (Gls) | |
| 1926-1949 India 185 (570) | |
Dhyan Chand was thrilled everyone with his silky stick-work which earned him the nickname hockey wizard.His father was Sameshwar Singh was a soldier in the British Indian Army.Dhyan Chand was attracted towards hockey in very early age.As like his father Dhyan Chand also enrolled himself in the army at the age of 16 and continued to play his favourite games there.
He earned the name Dhyan Chand (‘Chand’ which means moon in Hindi) since he played hockey even during the night after his duty hours, practicing under the moonlight.
Dhyan Chand made the Indian hockey team
In 1926,due to Dhyan Chand’s progress through the ranks saw him make the Indian Army team for a tour to New Zealand.In that tour they won 18 matches, drew two and lost just a alone tie during the tour.
In the first international assignment Dhyan Chand, in particular, received a lot of praise for his show.After return to India he was named a Lance Naik in the Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army.
For the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Dhyan Chand made the Indian hockey team due to his quality and performance. After the sport included in the Olympic for the first time, the newly formed Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) was wishing to send the best possible team for Netherlands. For best possible team formation IHF called for an inter tournament for making the squad for the Olympics.
Dhyan Chand was in India’s first hockey squad for the Olympic Games. In that tour to Amsterdam, Indian hockey team face some financial troubles before reaching.Dhyan Chand who was top-scored with 14 goals in 5 matches en route to a gold medal in their debut appearance.