Parents should encourage children to indulge in more sports activities: Vijay Goel

New Delhi [India], Aug 29 (ANI): Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Tuesday paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on his birth anniversary, and called on the citizens of the country to take inspiration from National Sports Day and encourage their children to indulge in more and more sports activities.

Goel said his ministry is taking various initiatives to promote sports in India and get more and more people associated with games.

"Today is National Sports Day. Major Dhyan Chand was the hockey wizard. He won the Olympic gold medals for the Indian hockey team in 1928, 1932, and 1936. And I believe every Indian citizen is aware of him," he said.

"Our Prime Minister talk about "Kheloge to Khiloge" and so you could see that he, during his 35th edition of Man ki Baat, discussed about the Sports Talent Search Portal through which we will take the ideas of Major Dhyan Chand forward. Not only in hockey or cricket, but we want to provide better facilities for all the sports. So that, more and more children get associated with sport," Goel explained.

"We want people to take inspiration from National Sports Day. Parents should encourage their children to come out of the social media platform and play on field. Our ministry has taken number on initiatives to promote sports in India," he added.

Earlier in day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended his greetings by congratulating all sports lovers across India and expressed hope that sports and sportsmanship will always shine in the country.

He said that India is blessed with an immense sporting talent and to harness this potential, they had launched an online Sports Talent Search Portal.

The Sports Talent Search Portal was launched by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday, August 28, a day before National Sports Day.

It should be noted that Major Dhyan Chand guided the Indian men's hockey team to three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936. He had also netted 400 goals for the country by the time he played his last match in 1948. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI