Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya led National Sports Day celebrations at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on 29 August, joining hundreds of participants in a wide range of sporting activities under the nationwide 'Ek Ghanta Khel Ke Maidan Mein' initiative. The event marked the 121st birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and served as a centrepiece of the government's push to embed sport and fitness into everyday Indian life.

How the Day Unfolded

Participants began assembling at the stadium from 8 am, taking part in cricket, football, and tug-of-war, among other activities. The programme opened with Mandaviya and Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal garlanding the statue of Major Dhyan Chand as a mark of tribute to the hockey icon.

A four-team cricket competition — featuring Ministry XI, SAI XI, Media XI, and Influencers XI — was organised as part of the festivities. The Ministry XI, led by Mandaviya and including Department of Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, registered a convincing win over Media XI in the opening match. The Influencers XI drew from prominent social media personalities and Fit India Ambassadors.

What the Ministers Said

Addressing the gathering, Mandaviya framed the initiative as a grassroots movement gaining nationwide momentum. 'Lakhs of youth across the country have been actively participating in every street, on every ground, to come out to play for one hour. I am glad to say that under Modi ji's leadership, the country is changing, the country is moving forward, a new India is being built,' he said.

He also linked physical fitness to the broader goal of national prosperity: 'In fulfilling Modi ji's vision of building a new India, we must also envision everyone to be fit, society should be healthy. That is what will help us become a prosperous nation. Let's all spend one hour every week on the playing field, and pay attention to our health.'

Meghwal highlighted the personal and societal value of sport. 'Sports have always been a part of my life, from kabaddi and football to playing badminton almost every day. My personal motto is morning music and evening play. Regular participation in sports keeps us physically fit, healthy and free from mental stress,' he said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to dedicate one hour to sport on National Sports Day 'supports the Hum Fit Toh India Fit initiative and plays an important role in building a developed nation.'

The Broader Initiative

The 'Ek Ghanta Khel Ke Maidan Mein' campaign is designed to complement the government's Fit India Movement, encouraging citizens — particularly young people — to step away from sedentary routines and engage in at least one hour of physical activity. On National Sports Day, events were held simultaneously across the country, with government officials, sports administrators, media personnel, and fitness enthusiasts participating at the local level.

Notably, the choice of the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium as the national focal point carries symbolic weight: it is named after the man widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, whose 121st birth anniversary falls on 29 August.

Legacy and Context

India has observed 29 August as National Sports Day since 2012, when the date was designated in honour of Major Dhyan Chand, who led India to three Olympic gold medals in field hockey — in 1928, 1932, and 1936. The Fit India Movement, launched in 2019, has since used the occasion as an annual platform to galvanise mass participation in sport and physical activity at the grassroots level.

With participation reported from streets and grounds across the country, the government appears intent on scaling the campaign well beyond institutional sport, targeting habitual physical activity as a public health priority.