Dhyan Chand

          Dhyan Chand was the greatest of all hockey players. Everyone who has seen him to play was amazed at his skill. In Holland, his stick was broken to check if there was a magnet. The Japanese together that it might have glue. The Germans wanted to buy it. The magic touch of Dhyan Chand came from his natural skill which was inborn. His brilliant career spanned between 1926 and 1936. In this time, India had, without any doubt, the best hockey team in the world.

          Dhyan Chand played in the centre forward position. Today we call this position ‘striker’. He represented India in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics where he scored 6 goals in India’s 8-1 win over Germany. Dhyan Chand’s real talent lay in his extraordinary vision. At a glance he knew where his teammates or his opponents were. He could see the field in the same way a chess player sees the chessboard. It took more than four players to guard him. He was the best and his team was the greatest.
          He opening words of his autobiograbphy Goal is : “You are doubtless aware that I am a common man.” But he never was a common man. India remembers this great sportsman. His birthday 29 August has been declared the 'National Sports Day' in India.