Dhyan Chand

Major "Dhyan Chand" Singh (1905-08-29–1979-12-03) was a former Indian hockey player and Olympian. Regarded as the best hockey player ever, and mesmerised Adolf Hitler for his exploits in the sport. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour. he got the title "Chand" or (moon) from his first coach, Pankaj Gupta, who predicted he would one day shine like a chand or moon. Dhyan Chand was affectionately called Dadda.

Post retirement

After his retirement, Dhyan Chand earned a diploma in coaching from the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, in Punjab. However he found it difficult to coach something that was innate to him.

Related Topics:
National Institute of Sports - Patiala - Punjab

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Residents of Vienna, Austria honoured him by setting up a statue of him with four hands and four sticks, depicting his control and mastery over the ball. He remains the only sportsperson in India to have statues in his honour. One of his statues is near the India Gate, New Delhi while another has been erected in 2005 at Medak in Andhra Pradesh.

Related Topics:
Vienna - Austria - Statue - India Gate - New Delhi - 2005 - Medak - Andhra Pradesh

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In 1956, at the age of 43, he retired from the army with the rank of Major. The Government of India honoured him that year by conferring him the Padma Bhushan (India's third highest civilian honour). However the Arjuna award for sports excellence was never awarded to him.

Related Topics:
1956 - Major - Government of India - Padma Bhushan - Arjuna award

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