Bhubaneswar: India celebrates National Sports Day on 29th August every year to mark the birthday of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday paid tributes to the hockey wizard Dhyan Chand on the occasion.
Tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand on #NationalSportsDay, commemorating the wizard’s life and his everlasting legacy in Indian hockey. As Odisha gets ready for #HWC2018, we remember how he earned an identity for the game in the country and abroad. pic.twitter.com/eFE2KK77hh
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 29, 2018
The Naveen Patnaik Govt has been betting big on hockey for the last few years.
In June this year, Patnaik urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare hockey as the ‘National Game’ of India.
In February, Patnaik announced a 5-year sponsorship deal of Rs 150 crore for the Indian men and women hockey teams.
In December 2017, Odisha successfully hosted the Hockey World League despite unseasonal rains.
The Hockey Men’s World Cup will be held at the Kalinga stadium here in Odisha from November 28 to December 16.
Kalinga AI