National Sports Day 2022

• 29 Aug 2022

Why in News?

The National Sports Day or Rashtriya Khel Divas is celebrated on 29^th August every year in India as a tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand who was born on this date in 1905.

What are the Key Points?

• About:
  • The day was first designated and celebrated in 2012 as India’s National Sports Day.
  • The nation celebrates the day honouring our sports stars.
  • The president gives away sports awards such as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, and Dhyan Chand Awards on this occasion.
• Significance:
  • The primary motto of National Sports Day is to promote awareness about the significance of sports and being physically active in day-to-day life.
  • The Government of India organises various programs, events, seminars etc to raise awareness about the significance of National Sports Day.

Who was Major Dhyan Chand?

• Widely known as the 'Wizard of Hockey', the greatest hockey player of India, Major Dhyan Chand Singh, was born on 29^th August 1905 in present-day Praygraj, Uttar Pradesh.
• He played as the centre forward at three Olympic Games for India winning Gold Medals at Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936 where he was the captain.
• He was a member of the first Indian overseas army team that toured New Zealand in 1926.
• Major Dhyan Chand scored more than 400 international goals in his career from 1926 to 1948 while scoring nearly 1,000 goals in his entire career.
• In a bid to pay tribute to such a legendary player, the Government of India decided to celebrate his birthday as the National Sports Day in 2012.
• Before this recognition, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan Award by the Government of India in 1956, the third-largest civilian honour in India.
• He breathed his last on 3^rd December, 1979, in Delhi having slipped into a coma.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year’s Question (PYQs)

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000: (2021)

1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by ‘Formula One’ players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Exp:

• The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sporting awards. First held in 2000, the annual event honours the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the year and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
• American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The award has been received mostly by Men’s Football Team (6 times) players so far. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Roger Federer (5 times) has received this award, the maximum number of times compared to others followed by Usain Bolt (4 times) and Novak Djokovic (4 times). Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the 32^nd Summer Olympics:

1. The official motto for this Olympics is ‘A New World’.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
b2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• The Games of the 32nd Summer Olympiad (Tokyo 2020) were held from 23 July to 8 August 2021. The Olympics have been held every four years since 1948. However, Tokyo Olympic 2020 was not held after four years as it was postponed for 2021, because of Covid pandemic.
• The official motto for Olympics 2020 was “United by Emotion”. The motto emphasised the power of sport to bring together people from diverse backgrounds of every kind and allow them to connect and celebrate in a way that reaches beyond their differences. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• A total of 46 Olympic Sports were contested at the Tokyo 2020 Games including Rugby, Sport Climbing, Fencing, Football, Skateboarding, Handball, Surfing, Karate, Baseball, among others. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: PIB