DHYAN CHAND

     

HISTORY:

           Dhyan Chand (29 August 1905 – 3 December 1979) was an Indian hockey player, considered to be the greatest field hockey player ever. Chand helped India win three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936 when India was the most dominant team in the sport.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

          Dhyan Chand was part of the Indian hockey team that won three Olympics and throughout his hockey career; he scored more than 1000 goals, 400 of which were international goals. In 1956, he was honored India’s third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, for his contributions to the field of sports. He was the captain of the gold medal winner Indian Hockey Team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• In 1936, he married Janaki Devi and had seven sons with her.
• During the last years of his life, Chand was forgotten, short of money and had suffered from liver cancer.
• His birthday, August 29, is celebrated as National Sports Day in India.
• Dhyan Chand’s statue is in Vienna depicting his master control over the ball.
• In 1956, at the age of 51, he retired from the army with the rank of Major.
• In Holland, the authorities broke his hockey stick to check if there was a magnet inside.
• He once met cricket legend Don Bradman in Adelaide in 1935, when the Indian hockey team was in Australia. After watching Dhyan Chand in action, Don Bradman remarked "He scores goals like runs in cricket"
• He published an autobiography titled "Goal", published by Sport & Pastime, Chennai, 1952.

HIS RECORDS:

Major Dhyan Chand will be all time world's best. Look at the records. That speaks. I am posting few records. If someone wants to counter please provide records. Though I think none can counter.. :D

1928 Amsterdam -

India beat Austria 6-0

India beat Belgium 9-0

India beat Denmark 5-0

India beat Switzerland 6-0

Final: India beat Holland 3-0

No goals conceded.The events top scorer was Dhyan Chand with 14 goals.

1932 Los Angeles -

Results:

India beat Japan 11-1

India beat United States 24-1

Dhyan Chand scored 8 in 24 and Roop Singh 10.

1936 - Nazi Olympics in Berlin -

Results:

India beat Hungary 4-0

India beat USA 7-0

India beat Japan 9-0

Semi-final: India beat France 10-0

Final: India beat Germany 8-1

CALL OF HITLER:

Beat Nazi Germany in Berlin in front of Hitler and his Nazi Company. DHyan Chand scored 6 among the 8 goals. Next day after the Berlin final the Fuhrer called Dhyan Chand and below is the excerpt of their conversation.

The next morning Dhyan Chand found himself, before Hitler. Hitler took a look at the sub-standard canvas shoes of Dhyan Chand and enquired "what else you do, when not playing hockey?"

Dhyan Chand: I am in Army.

Hitler: What is your rank?

Dhyan Chand: I am Lance Nayak

Hitler: Come over to Germany and I will make you a Field Marshal.

Dhyan Chand was in flutter, not understanding whether it was an instruction to him by the Supreme Commander of the mighty German Army or an offer. Breaking his silence after a few seconds, Dhyan Chand replied in chaste hindi, "India is my Country, and I am fine there".