PM Narendra Modi 'salute' sportspersons on National Sports Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted all the sports enthusiasts on the occasion of National Sports Day.

The day is celebrated in India every year to mark the birth anniversary of Hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand who helped the nation win four Olympics gold medals in the years 1928, 1934 and 1936.

Taking to twitter, the PM paid tribute to the exceptional hockey player on his 113th birth anniversary and urged people to give priority to sports-related activities.

"Greetings to all sports enthusiasts on National Sports Day. Tributes to the phenomenal hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand Ji on his birth anniversary.

I urge people to give priority to sports and fitness related activities, which will contribute towards a healthier India," PM wrote.

Modi further praised all the athletes participating in the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games and those who brought laurels to the nation in the Commonwealth Games.

"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," he tweeted.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar also remembered Dhyan Chand on the occasion and urged people to make sports a way of life in a series of tweets.

"Today, and every day going forward, let us make sport a way of life. There can be no better way to celebrate our #NationalSportsDay. #SportPLAYINGIndia," he tweeted.

"I've heard stories about #MajorDhyanChand practising Hockey under a moonlit sky as there were no floodlights in those days. He did what it took to fulfil his dream. That's what I call commitment. Remembering him on his 113th birth anniversary #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia," he wrote in another tweet.

Dhyan Chand scored over 400 goals in his career that lasted from 1926 to 1948.