Why National Sports Day in India is celebrated on August 29

Established in 2012, the National Sports Day in India is celebrated on August 29 as a mark of respect and in tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, fondly called 'Dadda' by sports lovers in India. It is also the birth anniversary of Dhyan Chand, who was born in 1905 and was the key figure in India's unbeaten gold-medal triumphs at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games. The National Sports Day also emphasises the value of sports and fitness in human lives, especially after the Indian government started underlying the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle through its various initiatives. August 29 is also a day when the country recognises the achievements of meritorious sportspersons over the past 12 months. Traditionally over the years, the annual sports awards were also given by the President of India on this day with a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.India's most prestigious sports award, the Khel Ratna, has also been rechristened as the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. It was earlier known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. Institutions across India, including schools and colleges, organize sports and fitness programs on this day to generate awareness among the youth about the importance of sports and staying physically fit. Since 2017-18, the 'Khelo India' program has gone on to become one of the marquee government initiatives to promote sports at various levels across age-groups. On the National Sports Day in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Fit India Movement' to further lay emphasis on the importance of sports and fitness. The day reminds of the unparalleled contribution of the wizard Dhyan Chand, inspiring the young generation to emulate the dedication and discipline with which he lived his life and played hockey like none other.