National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of one of India’s
greatest ever athletes – the legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand. His peerless
abilities with the hockey stick earned him numerous nicknames like ‘Hockey
Wizard’ and ‘The Magician’ as he guided India to global dominance in the sport
in the mid-20th century.

Dhyan Chand helped India win three
consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936, scoring hundreds of
goals in his career spanning from 1926 to 1949. He also has a number of awards
named after him, with the Major Dhyan Chand Award recognising an athlete’s
lifetime achievement in sport. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award – India’s
highest sporting honour – has also been rechristened after the hockey legend.

Also Read | National Sports Day 2021: History, significance and more

National Sports Day also serves as an occasion
to raise awareness about the importance of sports and related activities for
physical and mental well-being in life.

Here are five Bollywood biopics you can
watch to evoke the spirit of sportsmanship on this day:

Mary
Kom

The Priyanka Chopra-starrer film portrays
the life of boxing legend Mary Kom, who has won six World Championship gold
medals as well as a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. The film follows her
journey and struggle as she plays juggles between the roles of a boxer, a wife
and a mother. It was well received by the audience and won several accolades,
including a National Film Award for Best Popular Film.

Also Read | Gift for entire nation: India celebrates Bhavina Patel’s silver win

Soorma

Diljit Dosanjh portrays hockey player
Sandeep Singh in this film, which follows the highs and lows of his life – from
his rise to a hockey prodigy to being shot in the back that paralysed his lower
body and threatened to end his career. However, he made a comeback from that incident
and participated in the 2009 Commonwealth Hockey Championship in London.

MS
Dhoni: The Untold Story

Starring the late Sushant Singh Rajput as
the former Indian captain, the film follows Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s journey from
his childhood days in Ranchi to being a ticket collector at a train station to one
of the most decorated captains in the history of cricket.

Budhia
Singh: Born To Run

This film stars Manoj Bajpayee, Mayur
Mahendra Patole and Tilotama Shome in the lead roles and is based on the story
of a five-year-old boy, who became the world’s youngest marathon runner and the
resilience of his coach.

Bhaag Milka Bhaag 

Actor Farhan Akhtar portrays the role of legendary Indian runner Milkha Singh, following his journey from a displaced orphan during the Partition in 1947 to the most decorated track and field athlete to ever represent India.