Achievements and Accolades

Players like Dhyanchand become a synonym of the game; he is not a hero; he has become the parameter of hockey by which other players caliber is measured. It is surprising to know that Dhyan Chand, who came to be known as hockeys magician, started playing hockey only after joining the army! Dhyanchand took to playing hockey in army and was included in the Indian Hockey team for the 1926 New Zealand tour.By his superior play, Dhyan Chand was held in high esteem within the country as well as outside. Dhyan Chand helped India in winning gold medals in hockey in 3 successive Olympics games Amsterdam Olympics (1928), Los Angles Olympics (1932) and Berlin Olympics (1936). He was the captain of the gold medal winner Indian Hockey team in the historic 1936 Berlin Olympics. Dhyan Chand scored 101 goals at the Olympic Games and 300 goals in other international matches. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government, in the year 1954. Dhyan Chands birthday (Aug 29) is observed as the national sports day.