Narendra Modi and former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan have extended their warm wishes on National Sports Day, in which sports are appreciated by all and so important to people and to our generation and to our future generation in our country. India is celebrated on August 29 and the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand is celebrated.
Prime Minister Modi spoke in the presence of the Prime Minister and thanked the people and sports lovers, and athletes, for being so dedicated, passionate and determined on the occasion.
"To every sports lover...your dedication, passion and determination make everyone proud. We also pay homage to the legendary Major Dhyan Chand Ji, whose brilliance inspires generations," PM Modi wrote on X.
Dhyan Chand is one of the most influential figures in the history of Indian sport. With his great hockey skills and a mastery of the ball he was instrumental in India’s supremacy in international hockey during early decades of the 20th century. He is one of the best figures in Indian hockey and has been a symbol of great sportsmanship, discipline and national pride.
National Sports Day is the day of recognition of his achievements and recognition of all his athletes. Indian sports and sports competitions from cricket to hockey to badminton, wrestling to shooting and so many others have been going on and on in India.
Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan also spoke up and said sports not only teach about victory but also about learning from failure and the things that we learn to handle the day to day.
"I’ve always felt that sport is much more than winning. It teaches you to dream, work hard, handle setbacks and keep going. On National Sports Day, let's get more of our youngsters playing," Dhawan wrote on X.
To every sports lover…your dedication, passion and determination make everyone proud.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2026
We also pay homage to the legendary Major Dhyan Chand Ji, whose brilliance inspires generations.#NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/uwzxCWPmuW
Dhawan’s message was that it is important for young people to participate in sport and as such, to become disciplined, collaborate and be tough. Sports can also help children and teenagers develop discipline, teamwork and confidence and be resilient.
National Sports Day is celebrated every year on August 29 on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. The day is a reminder of the importance of physical activity and encourages people to make sports and fitness part of their day to day lives. A lot of schools, colleges, sporting organisations and communities hold competitions as well as fitness activities and awareness programs on the day.
The significance of the day goes beyond the sport. Sport can also be an asset for students in academic life and can help them develop cooperation and time management. For families and communities, physical activities provide a way to stay active and build social bonds. The occasion also encourages aspiring athletes to pursue their sporting desires and learn from the experiences of established players.
India’s sports landscape has evolved so much in such a short period of time and the athletes from different backgrounds are getting recognised on the national and international levels. But we are seeing the rise of a new generation of sports stars in different sports.
So National Sports Day is also a celebration and reminder. It honors Major Dhyan Chand so much and acknowledges the dedication of today’s sportspersons, coaches and sporting communities. The message from leaders and sporting personalities like PM Modi and Shikhar Dhawan also underlines the greater role of sports in society.
As India celebrates National Sports Day, we’re still working on building a better sports culture and getting more people involved. The day is about sporting success, but the values behind it are hard work, determination, discipline, teamwork and the stamina to keep going when things don’t go as planned. The legacy of Major Dhyan Chand is a vivid reminder of those things, and we all know how he is an inspiration to generations of Indians.
