What makes a person extraordinary? Is it several years of mere practice or is it persistence as well? Or is it the will to succeed despite the odds?
We keep questioning the rules of success. We keep looking from one rule to another to identify the recipe for success. And some of us find inspiration in different stories of humans.
Throughout history, we all have witnessed amazing success stories stating extraordinary deeds of human beings. Yet, sometimes we fail to recognize our potential. But through the stories of absolute will, passion, practice, persistence, and more, we tend to be inspired in times like these.
Today, we bring you one such inspiring and uplifting story of Major Dhyan Chand. An Indian hockey player who changed it all for several players and the Indian history of the sport.
Major Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad on the 29th of August in the year 1905. He was born to a soldier recruited in the British Army Mr. Sameshwar Singh and to Mrs. Sharadha Singh.
Since his early years, he loved the sport- hockey. It drew him since childhood and he found it absolutely fascinating. While he played the sport, he also got recruited into the army when he was young 16.
His mates in the army saw his fantastic skills and love for the sport. He was utter smooth in it. One of the many fun facts about him is related to his name - “Dhyan Chand”. It was given to him by his friends and a closed one named “Dhyan Chand” after witnessing his dedicated practice even at night under the moonlight. Soon, he made the Indian army reach heights by playing hockey. He kept on progressing and led the Indian team to its first tour in New Zealand in 1926. It witnessed magical moments thereby winning 18 matches. Dhyan Chand soon became the talk of not only the town but countries. And to no surprise, he reached the Olympics. He was the first-ever hockey player who reached the Olympics. Although it was hard for him to manage financially, he anyway turned up to Amsterdam where the Olympics held, and played like a magician. He was so brilliant at it that some officials in the Netherlands conducted an investigation to check if there was any magnet in his hockey stick! You see, success speaks in million ways. It starts with the thing called interest and passion. Soon, it grows into chasing excellence and so excellent that people doubt your excellence, you become the best. Major Dhyan Chand didn’t stop here. The Indian team made history against the USA in 1932 by scoring 24 goals. He won Olympic medals and soon was recognized by more and more people. He became so astonishing at the game that even “Hitler” - the then ruler in Germany approached him to play for Germany.
He not only gave himself an identity but also the whole sport as well as the country. Doing a thing so great that the thing itself becomes hype is rare. Extraordinary success is when this rarity takes place. Mr. Dhyan Chand is the result today if you google “god of history” on the search engine.
He has been appreciated throughout the world and one of the several respectful acts done for him across the globe includes his statue in Vienna. Today, he inspires hundreds of aspiring as well as professional hockey players across the world to be at their best.
Conclusion:
Success can never be a game of just one time. It takes years and years of practice, passion, and learnings. Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player, despite being poor and given uncertain life situations, chose to be the best at what he did.
Losing hope in dull times is the easiest thing one can do but fighting against it while trying to be excellent is something that takes you places. If you are willing to gain extraordinary success, hustle. Observe, learn and apply. Choose what you want to do and get ahead with it.
Dhyan Chand took it all ahead for the whole game. He not only took the level of the sport up but also gave the whole country and himself a name to remember whenever looked upon the history of hockey.
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