Confidence, teamwork, and joy—that’s the true power of sports. This National Sports Day, the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation stands with every budding athlete who deserves a chance to shine.

Celebrated every year on August 29th to honor the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, National Sports Day is more than a tribute to India’s sporting heroes. It’s a nationwide reminder that sports build character, foster discipline, and create pathways to dreams that might otherwise remain out of reach.​

Beyond Medals and Trophies

Sports teach lessons that no classroom can replicate. When a child learns to hold a bat, dribble a ball, or run their fastest race, they’re not just developing athletic skills—they’re building resilience, learning to handle defeat with grace, celebrating victories with humility, and understanding that success comes through consistent effort and teamwork.​

For millions of children across India, especially those from underserved communities, access to sports infrastructure, coaching, and encouragement can be transformative. It’s the difference between talent remaining dormant and potential being unleashed. It’s about giving every child the freedom to play, to compete, and to discover what they’re capable of.

A Day, A Movement, A Mission

National Sports Day 2025, celebrated under the theme “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main” (One Hour in the Sports Field), encouraged citizens across India to dedicate at least 60 minutes daily to physical activity and outdoor games. The three-day celebration from August 29-31 brought together schools, colleges, sports organizations, and communities in a pan-India movement that saw over 350 million participants engage in sports and fitness activities.​

This collective celebration embodies Olympic and Paralympic values—excellence, friendship, respect, courage, determination, inspiration, and equality. These aren’t just sporting values; they’re life values that shape confident, capable individuals who contribute positively to society.​

Standing With Every Budding Athlete

The Shikhar Dhawan Foundation’s commitment to sports extends beyond inspiration. Through initiatives supporting physically challenged cricketers, providing adaptive mobility solutions, and advocating for inclusive sports infrastructure, the foundation recognizes that every child—regardless of physical ability or economic background—deserves the chance to experience the transformative power of sports.

Major Dhyan Chand, whose birthday we commemorate on National Sports Day, rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest hockey players the world has ever seen. His journey proves that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. The mission is clear: ensure that no child’s potential goes unrealized simply because they lacked access to a playground, equipment, or encouragement.​

Together, We Nurture Champions

Champions aren’t born—they’re nurtured. They’re created in playgrounds where children learn to fall and get back up, in coaches who believe in potential before results, and in communities that celebrate effort as much as achievement.

This National Sports Day, let’s commit to being that support system. Let’s ensure that every budding athlete gets their chance to shine—not just on podiums and in stadiums, but in life, armed with the confidence, discipline, and joy that sports uniquely provide.

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