Dhyan Chand

Dhyan Chand Singh (Hindi: ध्यानचंद सिंह, Dhyāncand simh; born August 29, 1905 in Prayag, Uttar Pradesh, † December 3, 1979 in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh ) was an Indian hockey player. In addition to Richard James Allen, he was involved as the only players on the first three Olympic victories of India. Dhyan Chand was the outstanding hockey player of his time and one of the best hockey players ever.

Life

Dhyan Chand was born as the son of an Army family in Prayag, but moved as a small child with his family to Jhansi. He grew up there and after a brief schooling he went in 1922 with 16 years with the Indian Army. He became a member of the 1st Punjab Regiment. There they discovered his athletic ability and he became increasingly appointed to selected teams. On a journey of Indian hockey selection for England, the Indians came in ten international matches against the British, of 72 goals in those ten games scoring Dhyan Chand 36 Chand in 1928 appointed to the Indian national hockey team, which contested at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928. In the final against the hosts from the Netherlands Dhyan Chand scored as a center forward scored twice in a 3-0 win.

At the Olympic Games in 1932 were only three teams. India won 11:1 against Japan and 24:1 against the Americans. Dhyan Chand scored twelve goals in the two games, his brother Roop Singh scored thirteen hits. Overall, India scored 1932 338 goals in 37 games, Dhyan Chand contributed 133 goals to this statement at.

Dhyan Chand was also the 1936 Indian Olympic team, alongside goalkeeper Richard James Allen, he was the only double Olympic champion in the squad for Berlin. In the final against the German hosts, it was 1-0 at halftime, the Indians were not cope with the wet grass. In the second half, Dhyan Chand played barefoot and could control his game better. He scored six goals, India won with 8:1.

Dhyan Chand played yet another twelve years, and ended his playing career shortly before the 1948 Olympic Games in London. On extended tours with the Indian selection Dhyan Chand could demonstrate his playing ability on all continents, in 1947, he scored on a tour of East Africa 61 goals in 22 games.

In 1956 he retired with the rank of a Major from the Indian Army, the same year the Padma Bhushan was awarded to him. In 1976, his son Ashok Kumar participated in the Olympic Games in Montreal, but the Indian hockey team finished only seventh.

Play

Dhyan Chand was the leading scorer in the twenty years that he played at world-class level, but its role for his teams went far beyond that. He was also the most important each passer and his ideas opened the game for the Indian team.

Starting point for his playing style was his absolute control of the ball, get him with the stick maneuvers that could not foresee his opponent, because they kept things technically unfeasible. In numerous anecdotes is narrated that the host teams his bat examined in his numerous international tours, whether it was provided with a magnet or adhesive.

The two-time Olympic champion Keshav Dutt said about him:

"His real talent lay above his shoulders. His what Easily the hockey brain of the century. He Could See the field the way a chess player sees a board. He knew where his teammates were, and more importantly where his Opponents were - without looking. It was almost psychic. "

" His real talent was above his shoulders. He was simply the hockey genius of the century. He saw the game as a chess player the board. He knew where his teammates were and more importantly, he knew where his opponent were without looking. It was an almost prophetic gift. "

Afterlife

• On 3 December 1980, Dhyan Chand's first death anniversary, India's post brought out a postage stamp to commemorate Dhyan Chand.
• The Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi reminiscent of India's greatest athletes with a large statue.
• Dhyan Chand occasion of the centenary anniversary in 2005 a statue was erected in Medak.
• His birthday, August 29, is India's National Sports Day. On this day the Indian President Medal awarded to deserving athletes awards such as the Arjuna Award.