India is celebrating National Sports Day to mark the birth anniversary of hockey player and India’s sporting legend Dhyan Chand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded sportspersons on and said that this year has been great for Indian sports as country’s athletes have excelled in various tournaments, including in the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.
He also asked people to give priority to sports and fitness-related activities, saying it will contribute towards a healthier India.
“I salute all those who have represented India in various sporting events. Their hardwork and resolve has led to several milestones. This year has been great for our sporting fraternity, with the Indian athletes excelling in various tournaments including Asian Games 2018 and CWG,” Modi tweeted.
I salute all those who have represented India in various sporting events. Their hardwork and resolve has led to several milestones.
This year has been great for our sporting fraternity, with the Indian athletes excelling in various tournaments including #AsianGames2018 and CWG.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 29 August 2018
He paid tributes to the Hockey legend Dhyan Chand, whose birth anniversary is commemorated as National Sports Day. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also paid tribute to Dhyan Chand, calling him the ‘hockey wizard.’
On National Sports Day, I pay my tributes to the wizard of Hockey, Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary & call upon people to make sports a part of their daily routine. We must encourage & promote sporting culture in country, especially from school level. #NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/goztTdi45l — VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) 29 August 2018
हॉकी के जादूगर मेजर ध्यानचंद की जन्म जयंती पर उन्हें श्रद्धासुमन अर्पित करता हूं। उनकी जन्मजयंती को राष्ट्रीय खेल दिवस के रूप में मनाते है। इस अवसर पर प्रतिभाशाली खिलाड़ियों को भावी सफलताओं के लिए शुभकामनाएं। #MajorDhyanchand #NationalSportsDay pic.twitter.com/va53jxwh3Y
— VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) 29 August 2018
Several ministers including sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore paid tribute to major Dhyan Chand, and called for serious measures to inculcate sports into our lifestyles.
Today, we commemorate Major Dhyan Chand’s Birth Anniversary as #NationalSportsDay. Let us give our tributes to one of India’s greatest sports icons by inculcating sports as part of our lifestyle. pic.twitter.com/fOcMqHRejZ — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) 29 August 2018
(With inputs from agencies)