(1905-08-29)29 August 1905[1] Allahabad, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India (present-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died
3 December 1979(1979-12-03) (aged 74)[2] All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Allegiance
British India (1922–1947) India (from 1947)
Service/branch
British Indian Army Indian Army
Years of service
1922–1956
Rank
Major
Unit
1st Brahmans 14th Punjab Regiment Punjab Regiment
Awards
Padma Bhushan (1956)
Field hockey career
Height
169 cm (5 ft 7 in)[3]
Playing position
Centre forward
National team
Years
Team
Apps
(Gls)
1926–1949
India
185
(570)
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Representing India
Olympic Games
1928 Amsterdam
Team
1932 Los Angeles
Team
1936 Berlin
Team
Western Asiatic Games
1934 Delhi
Major Dhyan Chand (29 August 1905 – 3 December 1979) was an Indian field hockey player. He is widely regarded by many as the greatest field hockey player in world history.[4][5][6] He was known for his extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring feats, in addition to earning three Olympic gold medals, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, during an era where India dominated field hockey. His influence extended beyond these victories, as India won the field hockey event in seven out of eight Olympics from 1928 to 1964.[7]
Known as The Wizard[8][9] or The Magician[10][11]of hockey for his superb ball control, Chand played internationally from 1926 to 1949, where he scored 570 goals in 185 matches according to his autobiography, Goal,[12][13] and over 1000 goals in his entire domestic and international career.[14] BBC called him the "hockey's equivalent of Muhammad Ali".[14] The Government of India awarded Chand India's third highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan in 1956.[15] His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India every year. India's highest sporting honour, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is named after him.[16]
^"Indian hockey's famous legend Dhyan Chand's resume". Mid Day. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
^Dharma Raja, M.K. "Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand Remembered". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dhyan Chand". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020.
^"From Dhyan Chand to Dhanraj Pillay: The best Indian hockey players in history". Olympics. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^"India renames highest sporting award after hockey legend Dhyan Chand - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhuanet. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^"Major Dhyan Chand birth anniversary — Remembering the greatest field hockey player". cnbctv18.com. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^"National Sports Day 2021: Remembering India's golden hockey wizard, Major Dhyan Chand". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^"Find out about India's hockey wizard". bbc.co.uk.
^"From Dhyan Chand to Dhanraj Pillay: The best Indian hockey players in history". Olympics.
^"National Sports Day: PM Narendra Modi pays tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on birth anniversary". Indian Express. 29 August 2017.
^"Dhyan Chand: Great Magician of Hockey". Hindustan Times. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^"National Sports Day 2021: Remembering India's golden hockey wizard, Major Dhyan Chand". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^ayush.gupta. "Coming soon: A documentary on hockey legend Dhyan Chand". Asianet News Network. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^ ab"Discover hockey's answer to Pele". bbc.co.uk. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
^"Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Major DhyanChand (29 August 1905 – 3 December 1979) was an Indian field hockey player. He is widely regarded by many as the greatest field hockey player...
The Major DhyanChand Award, officially known as Major DhyanChand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games, is the lifetime achievement sporting...
[kʰeːl rət̪nə]), officially known as the Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award (transl. Major DhyanChand Sport Jewel Award), is the highest sporting honour...
recipients (2020–2029) DhyanChand Award recipients Dronacharya Award recipients Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy recipients Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna recipients...
The Major DhyanChand National Stadium, commonly known by its former name National Stadium, is a field hockey stadium in New Delhi, India. The stadium...
Bharat Ratna for DhyanChand". India Today. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014. "DhyanChand, not Sachin Tendulkar...
second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one of the characters...
Gupta was the first coach of DhyanChand. The latter's actual name was Dhyan Singh. Gupta gave him the title of "Chand" or moon, and predicted that one...
the birth anniversary of hockey player Major DhyanChand. This day marks the birthday of Major DhyanChand Singh, the hockey player who won gold medals...
(Etawah district), Uttar Pradesh, India. It is situated inside Major DhyanChand Sports College's campus. With a seating capacity of 43,000 people, it...
four awards presented in Olympic sports are Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, DhyanChand Award and Dronacharya Award. First presented in...
Sports awards in various categories, including the Arjuna Award and Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna awards. The ministry was set up as the Department of Sports...
India national team during the 1980s. He was awarded by the prestigious DhyanChand Award in 2017 for his contributions to the sport. Hakim was the member...
World in 2017, Arjuna Award in 2003, the Padma Shri in 2015, and Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna in 2021. Raj holds numerous records in international cricket...
do so. In 2008, Dhoni was awarded India's highest sport honor Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award by Government of India. He received the fourth highest...
awards presented in badminton are Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, DhyanChand Award and Dronacharya Award. First presented in the year 1961, a total...
The previous award recipients of Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and DhyanChand Award can also nominate one coach for the...
inaugural highest sports award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now called Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award), in 1991–92. The list of top 10 active players as of...
hockey. The four awards presented in hockey are Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, DhyanChand Award and Dronacharya Award. First presented in the...
national honours, the Arjuna Award in 2015 and the prestigious Major DhyanChand Khel Ratna Award in 2020 by the Government of India. Under his captaincy...
Hockey India plans, directs and conducts all the activities for both men's and women's field hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth...
India at the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games. He was the younger brother of DhyanChand. Singh is best known for his sports career, during which he scored three...
Kolkata, defeating Punjab. In his autobiography Goal!, the legendary DhyanChand remembers his Beighton Cup debut. He says, "In my opinion it is perhaps...
awards presented in cricket are Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, DhyanChand Award and Dronacharya Award. First presented in the year 1961, a total...
Global Information
British India (1922–1947)
India (from 1947)
British Indian Army
Indian Army
Major
Padma Bhushan (1956)