Every year 29 August is celebrated as National Sports Day in India. This is celebrated on the occasion of Major Dhyanchand’s birth anniversary, called the hockey magician. It is said that when Major Dhyanchand used to play on the field, the opponents used to lose their sweat, as if there was some magic in their hands that it was impossible to snatch the ball from them and stop them from the goal. Seeing his game, not only the Indian but the whole world was shocked.

About Major Dhyanchand

Major Dhyanchand ji was born on August 29, 1905 in Allahabad, whose name is now Prayagraj. He died on 3 December 1979 in New Delhi. He was also known by the names of The Wizard and The Magician all over the world, which means magicians. From 1926 to 1949, Dhyanchand ji scored 400 goals throughout his career. He was part of the team winning gold at the Olympics for India in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

Why is Sports Day celebrated?

Sports Day in India is celebrated on 29 August on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyanchand. Its purpose is to increase interest in sports with sports and respect Dhyanchand’s legacy. It is said that there was no other player like Major Dhyanchand in hockey.

When was the sports day started?

For the first time, August 29, 2012 was celebrated as Sports Day in India. Since then, every year it is celebrated as Sports Day. The Fit India campaign was launched by the Government of India on this day in 2019. This time, the Hockey Asia Cup 2025 tournament is also starting in Bihar (Rajgir) of India.

What is the theme of National Sports Day 2025?

This year the theme of National Sports Day is ‘one hour, in the playground’. Which gives a message to unite the society through it. The same is the same on the playground, with this message, the Fit India Mission Jan Movement will be launched.

There was a wave of mourning in the Indian sports world, when a sad news came from Kolkata today. Former Indian hockey player Ves Paes died today in a hospital in Kolkata. He was 80 years old. He represented the Indian team at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was the father of famous tennis player Leander Paes.

VEC PAES was part of the silver medal winning team in the Olympics and World Cup

Wes Paes was born on 30 April 1945. He used to play on midfielder position in the Indian team. He was involved in the Indian hockey team at the Olympics held in Munich in 1972, this team won the silver medal. He was also a doctor in Sports Medicine and was working in the BCCI’s anti -doping department for many years. He was also part of the team in 1971, which won a silver medal in the Hockey World Cup in Barcelona.

Dr verse paes, member of bronze-winning indian hockey team at 1972 Olympics and Father of Tennis Player Leander Paes Dies Dies at 80 Years of Age. pic.twitter.com/SJLMFIKUQ4

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) August 14, 2025

VEC PAES is married to a basketball player, son made name in tennis

Paes studied at La Martinier College in Lucknow after studying pre-medical from Presidency College, Calcutta during 1964-65. He was married to Bengali writer Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s Papoti Jennifer Datton. Jennifer has been a basketball player, who was part of the Indian National Basketball team in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games. He also captained the national team in 1982.

Vece Paes’s son Leander Paes won all Grand Slam in mixed double

Leander Paes made his name in tennis, he has won all four Grand Slam titles in mixed double. In the mixed double, he has won the Australian Open (2003, 2010 and 2015), 4 times Wimbledon (1999, 2003, 2010 and 2015), 2 times US Open (2008, 2015) and French Open (2016).

Wes Paes and his son were very fond of cars. In a conversation, Leander told that his father had an ambassador car in the 70s. He used to take care of him with his father, played etc.