The prospective players are joyous with the opening of the stadium here. Being built at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School Pulwama under the Augmentation of Sports Infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, this is the first of its kind stadium in the valley. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone for the Hockey Astro Turf Stadium last year in September followed by his visit to Pulwama.

“This work has been going on for the last one year, this will be Kashmir’s first International Hockey stadium. This stadium is 102 by 60 metres, the work is still on and we will start with national tournaments and later international games too. Within days it will be completed now. Around Rs 50 million has been spent on this stadium. The turf is incomplete but children are so eager to play on this field. Pulwama youth has always shown more interest in hockey, but kids wanted a place to learn. When international hockey players come to play here, it will motivate our young generation to pick up this sport. and our youth are very talented but they just didn’t have facilities. and I am sure our children will play internationally soon,” said Syed Javed Iqbal, Lecturer, Physical Education, as quoted by Wionews.

This was a long-standing demand of Pulwama youth, who have always shown interest in this sport. It would help in the revival of the most celebrated game in the district and valley as well.

“We are all extremely happy and a lot of children come to us asking us when this will be completed so that they can play. They are so eager to play on this ground and we have told them it’s a matter of days now. Our children are talented, Pulwama has a lot of talent and now we have this turf and I am sure we will do great in hockey as well,” said Imtiaz Ahmad Pandit, a physical education teacher of Boys Higher Secondary Pulwama. 

Specialists from around the country have been called up to assist in the construction of the turf. They are putting efforts to make this a stadium of international standards.

“There is no doubt that we can’t hold international matches here, We are an FIH approved agency, whatever materials we use are FIH approved. We have been working on the levels and turf for two weeks now and we have been installing turf for the last 6 days, within two weeks this stadium will be ready,” said S Raja, Technical Manager.

Enthusiasm is visible in the eyes of Kashmir players as they are already paying visits here. They are intently waiting for the stadium to open so they can start playing. 

The post Kashmir gets its first astroturf Hockey Stadium first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

PM Modi took to Twitter to made the announcement. “I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!” tweeted Modi.

It was in 1991-92 when the Khel Ratna award was first conferred to Chess genius Viswanathan Anand. The other winners who were honoured with the award were Leander Paes, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhanraj Pillay, Pullela Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra, Anju Bobby George, Mary Kom and Rani Rampal in 2020.

The hockey classic, Major Dhyan Chand, played international hockey from 1926 to 1949, scoring over 400 goals throughout his career. Dhyan Chand, born in Allahabad, was part of the national team that won gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics.

Apart from the Khel Ratna award, the country’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. It was inaugurated in 2002. In the same year, the National Stadium in New Delhi was renamed the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The post Khel Ratna renamed to Dhyan Chand award first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

The noted figure died last year on May 25 at the age of 96. In his remembrance, Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi officially announced the decision of renaming the stadium as a tribute to his achievements. He also said that once the pandemic situation eases, the state government is planning to conduct an International Hockey tournament at the stadium celebrating Singh’s triumphant sports journey.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh also tweeted to the hockey great’s reminiscence. “Fondly remember legendary hockey player Padma Shri Balbir Singh Senior. On his first death anniversary today, Mohali International Hockey stadium is being dedicated to him,” said he on the social media platform.

The iconic athlete won three golds in London (1948), as vice-captain in Helsinki (1952) and as captain in Melbourne (1956) Olympics. To date, his world record to score a maximum number of goals by an individual in the Olympics final remains unbeaten. In the victorious match of Helsinki in 1952, India won Gold against the Netherlands by 6-1, 5 claimed by Balbir Singh himself, the single record is still unbroken.

In 1957 he was honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India. The hockey legend also served as Director, Sports Department, Punjab. In the year 2019, he was awarded the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award by the Government of Punjab.

State Sports Minister also announced that the dedicated Department would start a scholarship in the name of Balbir Singh Sr. to be given to the outstanding achievers of the state.

The post Tribute: Mohali Hockey stadium renamed after Balbir Singh Sr. first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.

Achievements & Awards

• He had Scored over 400 Goals in 22 Years in the duration of 1928 to 1936.
• He earned 3 Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936 for his contribution towards India Hockey.
• He was also known as “The Wizard of the Hockey”
  Dhyan Chand Award is a lifetime achievement in sports and games in India.
• The Government of India also honored him with Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor in 1956.
• Additionally, the Government of India also celebrates his birthday as National Sports day on 29th August.

Here are some known facts of the Legend Hockey Player.

• This great legend was born in Allahabad, He was the elder brother of well known Roop Singh. His family had also played hockey for the British Indian Army.
• He was graduated from Victoria College in Gwalior in 1932.
• In his childhood days, He was not that not fond of sports, but he had an interest in Wrestling.
• Dhyan Chand Singh’s fellow players used to call him “Chand” since they noticed him practicing during the night after his duty hours.
• This player’s most rememberable year was 1928 when he had played as a leading goal scorer and scored 14 goals in Amsterdam Olympics.
• Beighton Cup final 1933 between Calcutta Customs and Jhansi Heroes was legend’s favorite Hockey match memory
• Dhyan Chand Singh once was offered German citizenship by then German dictator Adolf Hitler. However, he denied the offer.

Check Out some rare videos of this Legend-

The post A Tribute to Dhyan Chand on His 115th Birth Anniversary- National Sports Day 29 August first appeared on The History Book of Indian Hockey.