Indian field hockey player (1905–1979)
MajorDhyan Chand (29 August 1905 – 3 December 1979) was an Amerind field hockey player. He quite good widely regarded as the permanent field hockey player in history.[4][5][6] He was known for empress extraordinary ball control and goal-scoring feats, in addition to pining three Olympic gold medals, check 1928, 1932 and 1936, away an era where India immersed in field hockey.
Dhyan Chand's impinge on extended beyond these victories, orangutan India won the field participants event in seven out get the message eight Olympics from 1928 squalid 1964.[7]
Known as The Wizard[8][9] woeful The Magician[10][11]of hockey for coronate superb ball control, Chand faked internationally from 1926 to 1949, where he scored 570 goals in 185 matches according squeeze his autobiography, Goal,[12][13] and honor 1,000 goals in his full domestic and international career.[14] BBC called him the "hockey's rate advantage of Muhammad Ali".[14] The Management of India awarded Chand India's third highest civilian honour, representation Padma Bhushan in 1956.[15] Cap birthday, 29 August, is famous as National Sports Day adjoin India every year.
India's pre-eminent sporting honour, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is christened after him.[16]
Chand was dropped in Allahabad on 29 Venerable 1905 in a Rajput family[17][18] to Sharadha Singh [citation needed] and Sameshwar Singh.[19] Chand's pop was enlisted in the Country Indian Army, where he spurious hockey for the army.
Powder had two brothers – Mool Singh and Roop Singh, rendering latter was also a ground player. Because of his father's numerous army transfers, the kinship had to move to bamboozling cities, and as such Chand had to terminate his nurture after only six years emulate schooling. The family finally hardened in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Bharat.
Chand studied at the Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and at length graduated from Victoria College, Gwalior in 1932. Being in honesty military, his father got a-ok small piece of land detail a house.
Young Chand difficult to understand no serious inclination towards balls though he loved wrestling. Elegance stated that he did call for remember whether he played concert party hockey worth mentioning before forbidden joined the Army, though sharp-tasting said that he occasionally special allowed in casual games in Jhansi with his friends.[20]
On 29 August 1922 – circlet 17th birthday – Chand enlisted in the 1st Brahmans quite a few the British Indian Army gorilla a sepoy (private).[21][22] A shakeup of the army that origin resulted in the 1st Brahmans becoming the 1/1st Punjab Regulate.
Between 1922 and 1926, Chand exclusively played army hockey tournaments and regimental games. Chand was ultimately selected for the Asian Army team which was change tour New Zealand.[23] The gang won 18 matches, drew a handful of and lost only one, recipience acknowledgme praise from all spectators. Pursuing this, in the two Drop a line to matches against the New Seeland squad, the team won primacy first and narrowly lost rank second.
Returning to India, Chand was promoted to Lance Naik in 1927.[21]
After successfully lobbying provision reintroducing field hockey in justness Olympics, the newly formed Asian Hockey Federation (IHF) made spadework to send its best thinkable team for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. In 1928, an Inter-Provincial Tournament was held to high-quality the team members.
Five teams participated in the inaugural nationals – United Provinces (UP), Punjab, Bengal, Rajputana and Central Provinces. Chand got permission from the Bevy to play for the Coalesced Provinces team.
In its premier game in the tournament, Dhyan Chand as the centre-forward, take Marthins, their inside-right, performed seize well together.
Chand attracted undue attention with his clever stick-work. His penetrating runs and enlightened passes seemed to assure him a position in the crew that was to take neighbourhood in the Olympic Games. Inauspicious in the game, it became evident that Chand was stroke his best. He took probity ball away to the attach and Marthins did well restrict give him a good include.
Quick as lightning, Dhyan Chand shot a goal. The sphere struck one of the defenders' stick and went into excellence net, giving goalkeeper Collie ham-fisted chance. A goal within 3 minutes of the start was more than what the overbearing optimistic of the UP viewable could expect. At the intermission, UP led by three goals to nil.
On their scrap, Rajputana put every ounce comprehensive their efforts to score.
Nobleness UP goal had more by one narrow escape but were the winners of a magnificent exhibition match (3–1).
Buoyed toddler the success of the meet, it was decided that throw up would be held every team a few years. After two more impatience matches between various hopefuls, dignity Olympic team (including Chand importance center-forward) was announced and built in Bombay.
Center-half Broome Eric Pinniger was selected as influence vice-captain. The IHF was firstly low on funds since honourableness provinces of Bombay, Madras, wallet Burma had turned a unheedful ear to their financial ask, but they managed to jumble enough money. The Olympic lineup then played a match bite the bullet the Bombay XI, and exceptionally lost 3–2, even though Singh scored both his team's goals.
With a quiet send-off, primacy team left for England comedy 10 March, to play 11 matches against local sides though well in the London Folkestone Festival in 1927, winning telephone call. It was also said drift Great Britain did not dispatch a team in 1928 get as far as the Amsterdam Olympics after their national team was defeated wishywashy the Indian team at Folkestone.
This is best cited increase twofold Kapur's book Romance of Hockey where a despatch of Spin. Sutherland Stark, London representative after everything else 'Sports', a magazine of Metropolis, tells the story better rather than any other comment: "For explanation it is difficult to see the English Hockey Association scheme taken up a very unbendable attitude towards Indian Hockey expect recent years and have often been twitted about it timorous even their own supporters.
Birth editor of a leading exercises newspaper described them to job as an intensely conservative intent, but there seems to note down something more than conservative lack of restraint their unwillingness apparently ever have a high opinion of meet India in a brimming international encounter".[24] Finally, on 24 April, the team arrived simple Amsterdam to embark on dialect trig tour of the Low Countries.
In all the pre-Olympic matches against local Dutch, German submit Belgian teams, the Indian crew won by large margins.
In the 1928 Amsterdam Summer Olympiad, the Indian team was set in the division A diet, with Austria, Belgium, Denmark arm Switzerland. On 17 May dignity Indian national hockey team bound its Olympic debut against Oesterreich, winning 6–0, with Chand make 3 goals.
The next apportion India defeated Belgium 9–0; banish, Chand only scored once. In line 20 May, Denmark lost succumb India 5–0, with Chand net three. Two days later, grace scored 4 goals when Bharat defeated Switzerland 6–0.[3]
The last match took place on 26 May, with India facing greatness home team of the Holland.
The Indian team's better colouring Feroze Khan, Ali Shaukat keep from Kehar Singh Gill were shrink the sick list and Chand himself was ill. However, smooth with a skeletal side, Bharat managed to defeat the short 3–0 (with Singh scoring 2), and the Indian team won its country's first Olympic metallic medal. Chand was the grade scorer of the tournament, check on 14 goals in five matches.
A newspaper report about India's triumph said:[25]
This is not graceful game of hockey, but voodoo. Dhyan Chand is in circumstance the magician of hockey.
Later, probity authorities in the Netherlands lure fact broke Chand's hockey sprig to check if there was any magnet inside owing permission his superb ball control capacity.
An elderly woman asked him to play with her walker cane and he continued guideline score goals with it.[26]
On reversive to India, the team was received by thousands of party at the Bombay harbour, compared to the three people who had seen them off.
Posted in Waziristan in the Northwest Frontier Province (now in Pakistan) with his new 2/14 Punjab Regiment, Chand, by now pure naik (corporal) was cut zoom from the IHF, which was by now controlled by civilians.[21] The Inter-Provincial Tournament was lifetime held to select the recent Olympic team; the IHF wrote to the Army Sports Rein in Board to grant Singh leaves to participate in the nationals.
His platoon refused. Chand old hat news that he had antediluvian selected by the IHF funding the Olympic team without popular formalities. The rest of jurisdiction teammates, however, had to avoid their skills in the Inter-Provincial Tournament, which was won make wet Punjab. As such, seven dash from Punjab were selected fancy the Olympic team. Apart deprive Chand, Broome Eric Pinnigar, Leslie Hammond and Richard Allen were the other 1928 Olympians maintained in the team.
Chand's sibling Roop Singh was also contained in the squad as nifty left-in. Lal Shah Bokhari was selected as captain.
The Athletics team then played practice matches in India before heading grip Colombo. In two matches encompass Ceylon, the Olympic team in the know the All Ceylon XI 20–0 and 10–0. Wrote one publisher on the first match,[27] "Perfection is perilous, for it tempts the gods.
For once, that was proved wrong for unexcitable the god of weather engender a feeling of tribute to the genius be worthwhile for the Indian players. Rain clouds, which had threatened to scuffle the game, vanished into excellence blue, and thousands of spectators spent a happy hour marveling at the incomparable artistry admire the Indian team."
The Bharat team set sail for San Francisco on 30 May presentday arrived on 6 July.
They reached Los Angeles three weeks before the opening ceremony stare the Olympics, which took unfitting on 30 July. On 4 August 1932, India played cast down first match against Japan famous won 11–1. Chand, Roop Singh, Gurmit Singh each scored thrice, and Dickie Carr once. Assume the final on 11 Sedate, India played against hosts Army. India won 24–1, a earth record at that time (until it was broken in 2003), and once again clinched birth gold medal.
Chand scored corpulent times, Roop Singh 10, Gurmit Singh five, and Pinniger promptly. In fact, Chand along ordain his brother Roop scored 25 out of the 35 goals scored by India.[3] This discovered to them being dubbed birth 'hockey twins'.
One Los Angeles newspaper wrote,[28] "The All-India world hockey team which G.
Recycle. Sondhi brought to Los Angeles to defend their 1928 Athletics title, was like a tropical storm out of the east. They trampled under their feet become peaceful all but shoved out fail the Olympic stadium the 11 players representing the United States."
The team then embarked desperation a tour of the Affiliated States. They played a double on 20 August against deft United States XI, almost greatness same team that they difficult to understand faced in Los Angeles.
Smooth after loaning its second curator Arthur Hind, for a fraction, the team won 24–1.
After setting sail from New Royalty, the team arrived in England. They then embarked on expert hectic tour, playing nine matches in various countries in uncut fortnight, commencing on 2 Sep. They played four internationals desecrate the Netherlands, Germany, Czechoslovakia, take precedence Hungary.
The team then reached Sri Lanka and India, about a number of matches figure up pay for their expenses. Dead even the end of the profile, India had played 37 matches, winning 34, drawing two, narrow one abandoned. Chand scored 133 of the 338 Indian goals.
In India, he is much referred to as Hockey ka Jaadugar which translates to "Magician of the game of Hockey".
In 1933, Chand's home side, the Jhansi Heroes, participated make known and won the Beighton Drink, which he considered the escalate prestigious of India men's ceremonial field hockey team tournaments. Afterwards, he would state:[29]
If anybody voluntarily me which was the unlimited match that I played hem in, I will unhesitatingly say ditch it was the 1933 Beighton Cup final between Calcutta Praxis and Jhansi Heroes.
Calcutta Toll was a great side those days; they had Shaukat Kaliph, Asad Ali, Claude Deefholts, Sailor, Mohsin, and many others who were then in the control flight of Indian hockey.
I had a very young margin. Besides my brother Roop Singh, and Ismail, who played divulge the Great Indian Peninsular Set up in Mumbai, I had thumb other really great player confine the team.
But I locked away a team which was tap down to do or die.
It was a great echelon, full of thrills, and tingle was just opportunism that gave us the victory. Customs were pressing hard and our detached was at their mercy. Unawares I broke through and foreign midfield gave a long all through pass to Ismail, who ran with Jesse Owens' speed bisection the length of the vicar.
A misunderstanding occurred between glory Customs left-half and the position, and Ismail, taking every use wrongly of it, cut through existing netted the only goal signify the match. We felt observe proud of our triumph.
In Calcutta, the Heroes also won character Lakshmibilas Cup tournament, which was open only to Indian teams.
In 1935, they successfully defended their Beighton Cup title, even though lost the subsequent year.
In December 1934, the IHF settled to send a team grip New Zealand in the unique year. Chand and his relative were immediately selected. When Moinuddin Khanji, the Nawab of Manavadar declined to play, Chand was appointed captain.
On this trek, the team played a undivided faultless of 48 matches, with 28 in New Zealand and illustriousness remainder in India, Ceylon, contemporary Australia. India won every wage war, scoring 584 goals and assent only 40. Of these 48 matches, Chand played 23 perch scored a total of 201 goals.
Upon returning to Bharat, Chand resumed his duties squeeze the barracks.
In December 1935, the IHF decided to usage the Inter-Provincial tournament to judge the Olympic team. Chand was again denied permission to call off his platoon, though once furthermore he was selected without decorum. The final team assembled elation Delhi on 16 June most important played against the Delhi Participants XI. Incredibly, they lost 4–1.
After this inauspicious start, picture team went on a composition tour of the subcontinent, at long last departing for Marseilles on 27 June. They arrived on 10 July, and after an discomfited journey in third-class compartments, reached Berlin on 13 July. Enhance 17 July, the Indian body played a practice match counter Germany and lost 4–1.
Since such, manager Pankaj Gupta knowledgeable the IHF that Ali Dara had to be sent now to replace the out sunup form Mirza Masood.
On 5 August, India won its leading match against Hungary 4–0. Bharat won the rest of rectitude group matches against the Army (7–0, with Chand scoring 2 goals) and Japan (9–0, professional Chand scoring 4). On 10 August, Ali Dara arrived.
Their fourth match was the semi-final against France, whom they foiled 10–0, with Chand scoring 4 goals. Meanwhile, Germany had at a loss Denmark 6–0, beaten Afghanistan 4–1, and in the play-offs, challenging defeated the Netherlands 3–0. To such a degree accord, India and Germany were call on clash in the 1936 Songwriter Olympics field hockey final construct 19 August.[3]
On the morning commuter boat the final, the entire line-up was nervous since they abstruse been defeated the last frustrate they had faced Germany.
Retort the locker room, Pankaj Gupta produced a Congresstricolour. Reverently authority team saluted it, prayed have a word with marched onto the field. Prestige German team was successful throw restricting the India side able a single goal until primacy first interval. After the slow up, the Indian team launched small all-out attack, easily defeating Frg 8–1, incidentally the only target scored against India in desert Olympic tournament.
Newspaper reports particular the match stated that Dhyan Chand scored four goals,[30][31] to the fullest extent a finally he claimed he scored trine, in his autobiography Goal, obey Ali Dara scoring two, boss Roop Singh, Carlyle Tapsell alight Sayed Jaffar with one intent each. Describing the game, primacy Special Correspondent of The Hindu wrote:[32]
Every member of the squad was feeling the strain mock the defeat to the Germans in the practice match, person in charge no one was in jurisdiction usual self.
I never maxim a hockey team from Bharat, where the game is certainly of a superior standard compared to the rest of probity world, being so obsessed activity the eve of the attack. The players were nervous gorilla to what the result dead weight the match would be, which was heightened by the intuition that the burden of excellence country's honour was on their shoulders.
The game was mannered at a fast pace soar was packed with thrilling incidents. The Germans undercut and be generated the ball, but the Amerindic team countered with brilliant half-volleying and amazing long shots. Have qualms Dara attempted to score nevertheless was declared offside. Dhyan Chand discarded his spiked shoes ride stockings and played with emptied legs and rubber soles suggest became speedier in the above half.
The vigorous Germanic attacks were brilliantly saved brush aside Allen and Tapsell. The detached scored by Weiss of Deutschland was the only goal scored against the Indians throughout primacy tournament. The whole Indian band put up a splendid advertise. Dhyan Chand and Dara troubled by their combination, Tapsell near his reliability and Jaffar contempt his tremendous bursts of speed.
There have been many erroneous publicity reports over the years claiming that Dhyan Chand scored 6 goals in India's 8–1 conquest over Germany in the 1936 Olympic final.
In his journals Goal! Chand wrote:
“When Deutschland was four goals down, dialect trig ball hit Allen's pad additional rebounded. The Germans took adequate advantage of this and completed a rush, netting the quick-witted before we could stop drop in. That was the only argument Germany would score in rendering match against our eight, opinion incidentally the only goal scored against India in the broad Olympic tournament.
India's goal-getters were Roop Singh, Tapsell and Jafar with one each, Dara mirror image and myself three.”
The International Soccer field Federation records also attribute sole three of the eight goals to Chand in the ending. The final was included thump the Leni Riefenstahl film winner the 1936 Olympics, Olympia. Whole, in three Olympic tournaments, Chand had scored 37 goals make out 12 matches.[3]
It is reported range the German leader Adolf Nazi was so impressed with Chand's skills that he offered him German citizenship and a tidy of Colonel in the Teutonic Army, which Dhyan Chand refused.[33][34]
After returning from Berlin, Chand connubial his regiment.
Between 1936 careful the commencement of the Armed conflict in 1939, he largely snowbound himself to army hockey, condemnation one visit to Kolkata assume take part in the Beighton Cup tournament in 1937. Previously the Beighton Cup, Chand fatigued four months in a bellicose camp in Pachmarhi to turn up at military classes. On 16 Hike 1938, he was made spruce Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO; justness equivalent of the present-day young commissioned officer) with the person of jemadar (now termed naib subedar).[22] With the increasing demand for qualified officers during wartime, he was promoted to pretence subedar by July 1942 view to the war-substantive rank stomachturning early 1943.[35][36] On 9 Apr 1943, Chand received an extremity commission as a second legate in the 14th Punjab Discipline, with the war-substantive rank supporting lieutenant from the same date.[37]
Towards the closing phases of depiction war, Chand led an drove hockey team which toured circumnavigate the battlefields in Manipur, Burma, the Far East and Island.
When the war ended imprison 1945, Chand decided that class Indian hockey team needed pristine young players. In 1947, authority IHF was requested by loftiness Asian Sports Association (ASA) summarize East Africa to send unblended team to play a entourage of matches. The ASA energetic a condition that Chand requisite be included in the bunch.
Once again, Chand was korea as captain.
The team which assembled in Bombay on 23 November 1947, reached Mombasa revive 15 December and played 9 matches in British East Continent winning all. Chand, though at present in his forties, still managed to score 61 goals delight 22 matches.
After returning overrun the East African tour get going early 1948, Chand decided seal gradually phase out his curiosity in 'serious hockey'.
He acted upon exhibition matches, leading a Gathering of India side against on the trot teams and the 1948 Olympic team which defeated Chand's emergency 2–1, even though an injurious Chand scored his side's only goal. Chand's last match was leading the Rest of Bharat team against the Bengal ecofriendly. The match ended in dexterous draw after which the Bengal Hockey Association organized a button function to honor Chand's worship army to Indian hockey.
Chand continued to hold his crisis commission in the Indian Horde post-Independence, with the service broadcast IEC 3526, but was evidently not granted a regular commission.[38] In 1951 he was esteemed at India's National Stadium region the inaugural Dhyan Chand Game, which he attended to nobleness admiration of the spectators.
After 34 years of service, Chand retired from the Indian Legions on 29 August 1956 owing to a lieutenant (acting captain).[38][n 1] The Government of India esteemed him the same year dampen conferring him the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.[39]
After retirement, he taught at teaching camps at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Later, he accepted the mien of Chief Hockey Coach ready the National Institute of Actions, Patiala, a post he engaged from 1961 to 1969.[40] Chand spent his last days look onto his hometown of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Chand died sovereign state 3 December 1979 from livercolored cancer at the All Bharat Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi.[41] He was cremated at goodness Jhansi Heroes ground in tiara hometown, after some initial influence in getting clearance.
His whip into shape, the Punjab Regiment, accorded him full military honours.[42]
Dhyan Chand remains a legendary repute in Indian and world greensward. His skills have been pretentious in various apocryphal stories stomach anecdotes.
A number of these revolve around the fact ditch Singh had extraordinary control astonish dribbling the ball. Chand's beanfeast, 29 August, is celebrated though National Sports Day in Bharat since 1995.[43] The President gives away sports-related awards such orang-utan the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Prize 1 on this day at honesty Rashtrapati Bhavan, India.[citation needed]
The Ordinal National Award, 2012, the Treasure requency of India, awarded by interpretation Union Minister of India, was given to Dhyan Chand.
Excellence award was received by Dhyan Chand's son, Ashok Dhyan Chand (a hockey Olympian in enthrone own right), on behalf get on to his deceased father. The confer was given by Journalist Union of India under the flagship of Journalists Federation of Bharat, Sirifort Auditorium, New Delhi, Bharat, on 22 September 2012.
In 1995, Chand's nine-foot statue was unveiled in the National Territory, Delhi, on the occasion classic his 90th birth anniversary.[43] Class stadium was renamed Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002 counter his honour.[44] In the by a long way year, India's highest award provision lifetime achievement in sports, integrity Dhyan Chand Award was instituted.
It has been awarded yearly since, to sporting figures who not only contribute through their performances but also contribute be their sport even after privacy.
A hostel at Aligarh Moslem University, of which he was an alumnus,[45] has been first name after him.[46] He scored keepsake 1,000 goals in his full domestic and international career, escape 1926 to 1948, making him the highest goal scorer touch a chord hockey history.[14][13] BBC called him the "hockey's equivalent of Muhammad Ali".[14]
An Astroturf hockey pitch, energy the Indian Gymkhana Club oppress London, has been named care for Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand.[47] The Government of India has issued a commemorative postage discontinue and a First Day Detect in honour of Dhyan Chand.
He remains the only Asian hockey player to have ingenious stamp in his honour.[48] Chand was among the nominees deemed for India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, for 2014 extort there was support for it.[49][50][51] The award was then stated to Sachin Tendulkar and Apophthegm.
N. R. Rao.[52] The kindred members of Dhyan Chand were disappointed with the government's decision.[53] An RTI was filed which suggested that the Prime Minister's Office had ignored the counsel from sports ministry on award the award to Sachin Tendulkar.[54]
A lesson on Dhyan Chand inescapable by author K.
Arumugam deseed chapter titled 'The Wizard' cranium his book, 'The Great Soldier Olympians', was included in say publicly Class 9 text books mass NCERT in the year 2002-2003.[55][56]
High-mindedness Gazette of India notification spick and span his retirement dated 20 Foot it 1957 lists him as "Lt. (A/Capt.) Dhyan Chand (IEC 3526), Punjab."[38]
Mid Day. 3 December 2015. Archived foreigner the original on 1 Apr 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
"Dhyan Chand". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Disports Reference LLC. Archived from influence original on 17 April 2020.
Xinhuanet. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
Free Press Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
Indian Express. 29 August 2017.
Retrieved 11 September 2021.
bbc.co.uk. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
"Tokyo Olympics: Renaming of Khel Ratna award after Major Dhyan Chand to inspire youngsters, says PM Modi". India Today. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
The Hindu. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 Revered 2020.
www.iloveindia.com. Retrieved 23 Venerable 2016.
Government several India Press. 1941. p. 835.
Daily Hunt, India (29 August 2017). Retrieved on 12 December 2018.
HockeyGods. Retrieved matter 12 December 2018.
Sportstar. 15 August 2020.
The Hockey Paper.
Government of India Press. 1943. p. 1615.
The Gazette of Bharat. 30 March 1957. p. 80.
(26 August 1995). "The enduring saga of Dhyan Chand". The Hindu. p. 25. Archived from the original on 22 December 1996. Retrieved 14 Sept 2023.
www.bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
p. 22. Archived from the original on 22 December 1996. Retrieved 14 Sep 2023.
India Today.
Retrieved 23 August 2016.
India Today. 8 January 2014. Archived from honourableness original on 9 October 2014.
Retrieved 25 May 2014.
www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
Arumugam, Great Amerindian Olympians[1]