PM Modi recalls Dhyan Chand's legacy at 100 years of India-NZ sporting ties
Synopsis
A century after Major Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand with India's hockey team, PM Modi invoked that journey at the Khelo India Dialogue to mark 100 years of bilateral sporting ties — and to frame sport not as medal-hunting, but as a driver of national identity and youth development under the Viksit Bharat vision.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed the Khelo India Dialogue virtually on 27 August , marking 100 years of India-New Zealand sporting relations.
Major Dhyan Chand was part of India's hockey tour of New Zealand a century ago, which Modi described as the foundation of bilateral sporting ties.
Modi recalled Dhyan Chand during his recent state visit to New Zealand .
The Prime Minister framed sport as central to Viksit Bharat , linking youth sporting power to national development.
Modi argued that every athlete's success elevates their family, institution, district, and state — giving entire regions global visibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 27 August invoked the legacy of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand while addressing youth at the Khelo India Dialogue, marking a century of sporting relations between India and New Zealand. Speaking virtually, Modi linked Dhyan Chand's participation in India's hockey tour of New Zealand 100 years ago to the enduring bilateral sporting bond the two nations share today.
The Historic Tour That Started It All
Modi recalled that India's hockey team toured New Zealand a century ago, with Major Dhyan Chand as part of the squad. He described that tour as the foundation upon which 100 years of India-New Zealand sports relations were built. The Prime Minister added that during his recent state visit to New Zealand, he personally remembered Dhyan Chand's contribution to that historic journey.
'That tour became the foundation for completing 100 years of sports relations between India and New Zealand. A few days ago, when I visited New Zealand, I remembered him there as well. Major Dhyan Chand ji laid the foundation for these ties, and today India continues to work towards strengthening and enriching those relations,' Modi said.
Sport as a Pillar of Viksit Bharat
Modi broadened his remarks beyond medal tallies, framing sport as integral to India's larger developmental vision. He argued that sporting achievement is about the flourishing of personality, family, and national pride — not merely podium finishes.
'When I talk about sports, it is not restricted to winning medals. It is an endeavour to bring together India's sporting power and its youth power in the making of a Viksit Bharat. Those who play will flourish — and flourishing through sport does not simply mean winning on the field,' he said.
How Sporting Success Shapes Regional Identity
The Prime Minister elaborated on the ripple effect of individual athletic achievement, noting that a sportsperson's success elevates their family, educational institutions, district, and state — eventually placing entire regions on the global map.
'When a sportsperson succeeds, that success is not theirs alone. Their success builds the identity and enhances the prestige of their family. It also raises the reputation of the school or college they studied at, and strengthens the identity of their district and state,' Modi said, adding that every district carries the potential to shine on the world's sports map.
Context: National Sports Day and Dhyan Chand's Enduring Legacy
The Khelo India Dialogue was held on the occasion of National Sports Day, observed annually on 29 August — the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. Regarded as the greatest field hockey player of his era, Dhyan Chand led India to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936. His inclusion in the New Zealand tour a century ago now stands as a diplomatic and sporting milestone, cited by the government as the origin point of bilateral sporting engagement. This is not the first time Modi has invoked Dhyan Chand's name in a policy or diplomatic context — the government renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after him in 2021.
With India's sporting infrastructure expanding under the Khelo India programme and bilateral ties with New Zealand deepening, the centenary marks a moment of reflection as much as celebration.
Point of View
It frames a century-old hockey tour as the origin story of a bilateral relationship the government is actively deepening. The 'Viksit Bharat through sport' framing is also notable: it repositions Khelo India from a grassroots welfare scheme into a nation-building narrative, with youth sporting power as a geopolitical asset. What remains to be seen is whether the infrastructure investments match the rhetorical ambition — India's medal count at recent Olympics, while improving, still lags the scale of the programme's stated goals.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say about Major Dhyan Chand at the Khelo India Dialogue?
PM Modi recalled that Major Dhyan Chand was part of India's hockey tour of New Zealand a century ago and described that tour as the foundation of 100 years of sporting relations between India and New Zealand. He also said he personally remembered Dhyan Chand during his recent visit to New Zealand.
What is the Khelo India Dialogue?
The Khelo India Dialogue is a government-organised engagement platform under the Khelo India programme, aimed at connecting India's youth with sporting values and national development goals. PM Modi addressed the event virtually on 27 August.
Why is National Sports Day significant in this context?
National Sports Day is observed on 29 August, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, making it a fitting occasion for Modi to recall the hockey legend's legacy and the centenary of India-New Zealand sporting ties.
When did India's hockey team first tour New Zealand?
India's hockey team toured New Zealand approximately 100 years ago, with Major Dhyan Chand as part of the squad. That tour is now cited by the government as the starting point of bilateral sporting relations between the two countries.
How has the Modi government previously honoured Major Dhyan Chand?
In 2021, the government renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award — India's highest sporting honour — after Major Dhyan Chand, recognising his unparalleled contribution to Indian hockey and sport.
