Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha unveiled a marble statue of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand in Agartala on National Sports Day, paying tribute to one of India’s greatest sporting icons and calling for greater participation in sports among young people.
The statue was unveiled on Saturday at the Dashrath Dev State Sports Complex in Badharghat, as Tripura marked National Sports Day. The day is observed every year on August 29 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.
The event highlighted the contribution of the hockey legend to Indian sport and the importance of encouraging young people to take up sporting activities.
Manik Saha Calls For More Youth Participation
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Manik Saha stressed the role of sports in building a healthy and disciplined society.
He said sporting activities help develop discipline among young people and play an important role in shaping the next generation.
The Chief Minister also said the Tripura government has been working to create more opportunities for athletes and strengthen sports infrastructure across the state.
According to the government, efforts are being made to create a better environment for athletes by improving facilities and providing greater opportunities for sporting talent.
Major Dhyan Chand’s Legacy Remembered
Major Dhyan Chand is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest hockey players and is popularly known as the “Wizard of Hockey.”
His contribution to Indian hockey remains closely associated with the country’s historic Olympic success. His birth anniversary on August 29 is commemorated as National Sports Day across India.
The unveiling of his statue in Tripura was therefore seen as a tribute to his sporting legacy and an effort to inspire younger generations.
The programme also received added significance from the presence of Ashok Kumar, son of Major Dhyan Chand. Ashok Kumar was himself an Olympian and an Arjuna Award-winning hockey player.
Focus On Sports Infrastructure In Tripura
The Tripura government used the National Sports Day programme to highlight its efforts to improve sports infrastructure in the state.
Chief Minister Saha said the government was working to provide athletes with better facilities, training opportunities and support so that sporting talent from Tripura could compete at higher levels.
The focus is not limited to identifying established athletes but also includes creating opportunities for young people to enter organised sports.
The government has said that developing sporting infrastructure is important to create a healthy and supportive environment where athletes can train and improve their performance.
National Sports Day Celebrated Across India
National Sports Day is observed across the country every year on August 29 in honour of Major Dhyan Chand.
The day is also used to promote fitness, sporting participation and awareness about the importance of sports in everyday life.
Several states and institutions organised sporting events and programmes this year to mark the occasion.
In Tripura, the unveiling of the Dhyan Chand statue provided a symbolic centrepiece to the celebrations, linking the state’s efforts to promote sports with the legacy of one of India’s most celebrated hockey players.
The programme also sent a message to young people that sports can play a larger role in building discipline, fitness and confidence.
With Tripura continuing to focus on sports infrastructure and opportunities for athletes, the state government hopes that initiatives like these will encourage more young people to pursue sports and help develop the next generation of sporting talent.
