The magic of Dhyan Chand

Gold rush: The Dhyan Chand legend was built upon consistent performances. He was part of the gold medal winning hockey contingent in three successive Olympics. Here he poses with the victorious 1928 team which became champions at Amsterdam.

Updated on: Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM IST

Brunch

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

Gold rush: The Dhyan Chand legend was built upon consistent performances. He was part of the gold medal winning hockey contingent in three successive Olympics. Here he poses with the victorious 1928 team which became champions at Amsterdam.

2/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

Those were the days: India played France in the semi-finals of the 1936 Olympics and won by a margin of 10 goals.

3/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

Take that: Dhyan Chand on the dais at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. The Games busted Hitler's notions of racial superiority.

4/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

Babuji's memories: Although Dhyan Chand wasn't naturally an extrovert, but the hockey magician had his own ways of displaying affection, says his son Ashok, who scored a goal against Pakistan to help India win the World Cup in 1975.

5/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

One for the album: The postage stamp issued commemorating the hockey legend. Sports lovers say he should have been the first sportsperson to become the Bharat Ratna before Sachin Tendulkar.

6/6

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 26, 2014 12:20 PM

The stick wizard: Dhyan Chand was a hockey magician who could conjure up scoring opportunities at will and a patriot who turned down an offer the Fuhrer thought he couldn't refuse. Major Dhyan Chand was all these and then some.? Pic courtesy: Corbis