Cuttack /Jajpur,29/08(PPT): ; Dr Satyajit Nayak,IG Central Range. today paid homage to the Indian Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand on the occasion of National Sports Day. He said that Major Dhyan Chand’s brilliance in Indian hockey continues to inspire generations. Extending his greetings to all sports lovers, the IG said that their dedication, passion and determination make the nation proud.he said Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August, 1905 at Allahabad in the house of father Sameshwar Dutt. Dhyan Chand’s father and elder brother were also prominent players of hockey. Thus, Dhyan Chand received his game in heritage. His father worked in British Indian Army. Major Dhyan Chand joined army as a soldier at the age of sixteen. There a Subedar Major Tiwari motivated him to play hockey. Major Dhyan Chand used to practise hockey with great dedication after his duty hours in the evening till late night in the moonlight. He participated in sports competitions of army from 1922 to 1926. Dhyan Chand’s game was highly appreciated during the annual sports competition in Delhi. This appreciation boosted Dhyan Chand’s spirit high. He played his first International match in Newzealand on 13th May, 1926. In Newzealand 21 matches were played. India won 18 matches out of these due to the marvellous game played by Dhyan Chand, two matches were played drawn. India lost only one match. In 1928, the Indian team participated in Amesterdom Olympic games for the first time. Indian team after winning initial matches defeated Australia by 6-0, Belgium 9-0, Denmark 5-0, Switzerland 6-0 and Holland 3-0 in final match and India emerged as a hockey champion of Olympic games. In this final match two goals out of three were exclusively scored by Dhyan Chand. Indian team participated in Los Angels Olympic games in 1932. Dhyan Chand played crucial role as a centre forward player. In these Olympic games the final match was played between India and America. In which India defeated the American team by 24-1. Among these 24 goals, Dhyan Chand alone scored 8. An American newspaper after the shameful defeat of America wrote that Indian team was a typhoon that came from the East Indian team scored 262 goals during these Olympic games. Dhyan Chand scored 101 goals alone. Major Dhyan Chand’s name was included among the top most players of the world.Indian government recognized Dhyan Chand’s wonderful game skill and honoured him with “Padam Bhushan” in 1956He was declared the best player of the century by the Indian Olympic Association. 29th August, Chand’s birthday, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India with great pomp and show.A statue of Dhyan Chand has been set up in Vienna. It seems after counting the achievements of Major Dhyan Chand, it was these more than 400 were scored on International level and against promotions in the army for established that he was born to play hockey. He set many mile stones in the game of hockey. He scored more than 1000 goals in his career. Among these victories time after time. Dhyan Chand passed away on 3rd December 1979. The Indian Postal Service had even issued a postage stamp in his memory. In the same way an International Stadium at New Delhi has been named after him in his memory.