Padma Bhushan Major Dhyanchand

Although born in Allahabad, owing to his father’s numerous army transfers, Dhyanchand finally settled in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India after six years of schooling. Major Dhyan Chand took Indian hockey to soaring heights
at the global level. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players in the history. 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 in 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. Known as The Wizard or The Magician 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, and over 1000 goals in his entire domestic and international career.
BBC called him the “hockey’s equivalent of Muhammad Ali”. The Government of India awarded Chand India’s third
highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan in 1956. His birthday, 29th 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.