Celebrating the legacy of the wizard of hockey on August 29, 2025
National Sports Day 2025 in India falls on Friday, August 29. Learn about its history – honoring the birthday of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand – and find out how schools and the nation celebrate sports, plus the latest government announcements and awards for Sports Day 2025.
National Sports Day: Date and Significance
National Sports Day in India is celebrated every year on August 29
marking the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Dhyan Chand (1905-1979) was born on August 29, 1905
and is revered as India’s greatest hockey player. He led India to three Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936)
and reportedly scored over 1,000 goals in his international career
The day celebrates his legacy and promotes the values of sport – fitness, discipline, teamwork and national pride – to inspire new generations to stay active
Latest news and announcements for Sports Day 2025
Recent announcements from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports set the stage for Sports Day 2025. For example:
National Sports Awards 2024: Announced on January 2, 2025; ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna 2024: The honourees include Gukesh D. (chess), Harmanpreet Singh (hockey), Praveen Kumar (para-athletics) and Manu Bhaker (shooting).
- Government message: On Sports Day 2024, PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dhyan Chand and affirmed that the government is “committed to supporting sports and ensuring that more young people can play and shine”
- Sports initiatives: The government often uses the occasion to launch a national sports programme. For example, the Khelo India scheme was unveiled on Sports Day 2018 and similar fitness or youth sports campaigns are expected around August 2025.
Schools, colleges and national celebrations
Across India, schools and colleges celebrate Sports Day with inter-house meets and fun competitions. Many institutions organise track-and-field events, relays, team games (such as kabaddi or kho-kho) and indoor sports to engage students. The Fit India mission encourages schools, colleges and government organisations to organise sports activities during the week of August 21-29, with the goal of getting every student to exercise for at least one hour.
Schools can register these events on the Fit India portal, upload photos/videos and also issue e-certificates to participants. These grassroots celebrations echo the national theme: as stated on the official Fit India page, National Sports Day is dedicated to sports heroes and aims to “encourage people to take up sports and make it an integral part of their lives”
At the national level, sports authorities may host marathons or exhibitions on August 29 and media outlets spotlight outstanding athletes, making the day a celebration of fitness and sportsmanship.
Sports Day 2025: Events, campaigns and athlete felicitation
Though Sports Day itself is not a public holiday, it often coincides with special campaigns and felicitations.
The Fit India Movement typically organises large-scale fitness events (races, cycle rallies, pledge drives) in late August to engage citizens. Major schemes such as Khelo India have historically been launched on National Sports Day
So new youth-sports programmes may be announced around August 29 in 2025. Athlete honours remain a highlight: the President’s Dhyan Chand Award (for lifetime achievements) and the Arjuna Award for excellence are traditionally given in this period. (The latest National Sports Awards, announced in January 2025, will be presented in August.) In short, Sports Day 2025 will incorporate tributes to Dhyan Chand’s legacy as well as active promotion of today’s athletes and fitness initiatives, ranging from grassroots school programmes to government-led campaigns.
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Quick facts and highlights
- Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
- Honour: Birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand (born 29 August 1905)
- Hockey legacy: Dhyan Chand won 3 Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936)
- And scored 1,000+ goals
- Awards ceremony: Rashtrapati Bhavan hosts National Sports Awards; NS Awards 2024 winners to be felicitated on January 17, 2025
- Ground level: Fit India guidelines urge school sports activities around NS Day
- making fitness a priority across the country.
- Recent highlights: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna 2024 awarded to Gukesh, Harmanpreet S., Praveen K. and Manu B.
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