5 unknown facts about Hockey’s Magician Dhyan Chand

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One of the best hockey players that our country has ever had, Dhyan Chand. Not only did he make our country’s name shine in International sports events, but the way he played hockey was simply magical.

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The defenders would look as if they have no idea what’s going on between the ball and his hockey stick. Chand played a key role in India winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in hockey at 1928, 1932 and 1936.

His birth anniversary, 29th August, is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India and the President gives away awards such as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Dronacharya awards on this day. Here are 5 interesting facts about the iconic player that every Indian must know:

1. Not Scoring a goal

During a match with Germany in the 1936 Olympics, Dhyan Chand lost a tooth in a collision with the particularly aggressive Germany goalkeeper Tito Warnholtz. Returning to the field after medical attention, Dhyan Chand reportedly told the players to “teach a lesson” to the Germans by not scoring. The Indians repeatedly took the ball to the German circle only to backpedal.

2. Argument with Referee

Once, when Dhyan Chand was unable to score during a match, he argued with the match referee about the measurement of the goal post. To everyone’s shock, Chand was right; the goal post was found to be in an infringement of the official minimum width prescribed under international rules.

3. Army to Hockey

Dhyan Chand joined the Indian Army at the young age of 16 and took up hockey while he was still enrolled. Since Dhyan Singh used to practice a lot during the night, he was given the nickname ‘Chand’ by his fellow players; his practice sessions at night invariably coincided with the coming out of the moon. ‘Chand’ means moon in Hindi.

4. Magician in Berlin

After India’s first match at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, people watching other sporting events thronged to the hockey stadium. A German newspaper carried a banner headline: ‘The Olympic complex now has a magic show too.’ The whole city of Berlin had posters: “Visit the hockey stadium to watch the Indian magician Dhyan Chand in action.”

5. Don of Cricket talk about Magician of Hockey

Australian great Don Bradman met Dhyan Chand at Adelaide in 1935. After watching him play, Bradman remarked, “He scores goals like runs in cricket”.