Dhyan Chand

Hello! My name is Dhyan Chand, but some people called me 'The Wizard' of hockey. I was born on August 29th, 1905, in a city in India called Allahabad. When I was a little boy, I didn't play much hockey. I actually liked wrestling more! My father was in the army, and when I turned 16 years old in 1922, I decided to become a soldier just like him. It was in the army where my love for hockey truly began.

In the army, I started practicing hockey all the time. I would practice during the day, and even at night after my work was done. I often practiced under the light of the moon. My friends noticed and started calling me 'Chand,' which means 'moon' in the Hindi language. Soon, everyone knew me as Dhyan Chand! All that practice paid off. In 1928, my team and I got to play for India in the Olympic Games in Amsterdam. It was so exciting! We played our best and won the gold medal. We did it again in 1932 in Los Angeles. Then, in 1936, I was chosen to be the captain of our team for the Olympics in Berlin. We won our third gold medal in a row! It felt like a dream.

I will never forget the final game at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. It was raining, which made the field very wet and slippery. To get a better grip, I even took off my spiked shoes and played in my bare feet! We won the game and the gold medal. After the match, an important German leader told me he was very impressed and offered me a high-paying job. I smiled and politely said no. I told him that India was my home, and I was proud to play for my country. Later in my life, in 1956, my country gave me a special award called the Padma Bhushan to thank me for my hard work.

I played and coached hockey for many years, sharing my love for the game with others. I lived to be 74 years old. Today, people in India still remember me and my team. To honor me, my birthday, August 29th, is celebrated as National Sports Day all across India. It's a day for everyone to celebrate sports and play their favorite games. I hope my story inspires you to find a game you love and always play with joy in your heart.