National Sports Day was observed across India on 29 August, with fitness runs and sports awareness events held in New Delhi and Patna to promote physical well-being and encourage citizens to embrace an active lifestyle. The day marks the birth anniversary of legendary Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.

Northeast Delhi Run at Milkha Singh Mini Stadium

In Northeast Delhi, the police department organised the 'Northeast Delhi Run' at the Milkha Singh Mini Stadium near Welcome Police Station. Additional DCP Northeast Delhi Sandeep Lamba flagged off the event and said the run was part of a broader effort to promote fitness among citizens.

'We organise a Sunday run every week under the Fit India initiative, with programmes held at different police stations. This time, since it was National Sports Day, we organised the run a day in advance,' Lamba said.

'Run for Fitness' and 'Fit Digha, Hit Digha' in Patna

In Patna, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav participated in a fitness programme in the Digha area. The event — titled 'Run for Fitness' and 'Fit Digha, Hit Digha' — was organised under the leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia.

Yadav said he was confident the programme would 'create greater awareness about fitness and health among the people of Patna.' Chaurasia noted that the initiative was launched under the Fit India programme specifically to motivate youngsters to prioritise physical health. BJP MLA Ratnesh Kumar Kushwaha also attended and underscored the role of sports in daily life.

Why National Sports Day Is Observed on 29 August

National Sports Day is observed every year on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, born in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, in 1905. The observance was officially introduced in 2012 to honour his contribution to Indian hockey and to promote sports participation nationwide.

The day has traditionally been associated with the presentation of India's top sporting honours at Rashtrapati Bhavan. India's highest sporting honour — the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award — is also named after the hockey legend; it was previously known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award before being renamed.

Fit India Movement and Khelo India: The Policy Backdrop

The Khelo India programme, launched in its current form during 2017-18, remains one of the government's flagship initiatives for promoting sports participation across age groups. On National Sports Day 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Fit India Movement, further anchoring the date as a national focal point for fitness advocacy.

This year's events in Delhi and Patna reflect the growing institutionalisation of the day at the district and state level, with police departments, elected representatives, and civic bodies all taking ownership of grassroots fitness drives. As participation widens, the challenge will be sustaining momentum beyond a single annual occasion.