Sachin Tendulkar has always raised a voice when it comes to spreading awareness about sports in the country. On the special occasion of National Sports Day in India on August 29, the Indian cricket legend tweeted about five of India's greatest athletes.
There is a long list of sports personalities who made the country proud. But while picking only five, he named hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, first Indian to win the All-England badminton tournament Prakash Padukone, star sprinter PT Usha, one of the greatest openers of all time Sunil Gavaskar and tennis star Vijay Amritraj.
It was Major Dhyan Chand's 113th birth anniversary and the Bharat Ratna awardee began with the 'Hockey Wizard'. "I've heard stories about #MajorDhyanChand practicing Hockey under a moonlit sky as there were no floodlights in those days. He did what it took to fulfill his dream. That's what I call commitment. Remembering him on his 113th birth anniversary #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia," he tweeted.
I've heard stories about #MajorDhyanChand practising Hockey under a moonlit sky as there were no floodlights in those days. He did what it took to fulfil his dream. That's what I call commitment. Remembering him on his 113th birth anniversary #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia pic.twitter.com/O8aQc3UhEc
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2018
It was followed by India's one of the best batsman of all time Sunil Gavaskar. Tendulkar has always admired him and considered the brave batsman as his idol. "To me, #SunilGavaskar is the epitome of unwavering concentration & courage. To step out on the field against a team that was well-known for ferocious pace bowlers and still achieve one of his highest batting averages. All I can say is … Wow! #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia," he wrote.
To me, #SunilGavaskar is the epitome of unwavering concentration & courage. To step out on the field against a team that was well-known for ferocious pace bowlers and still achieve one of his highest batting averages. All I can say is … Wow! #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia pic.twitter.com/2s8KRnu8O3
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2018
PT Usha is third on his list. The "queen of Indian track and field" also found a place in Sachin's list. He tweeted, "In the 80s when I was starting out in my own career, a strong Track & Field athlete was already blazing a trail for Indian sportswomen. To get to that point from a small town in Kerala was a remarkable feat. @PTUshaOfficial you paved the way #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia."
In the 80s, when I was starting out in my own career, a strong Track & Field athlete was already blazing a trail for Indian sportswomen. To get to that point from a small town in Kerala was a remarkable feat. @PTUshaOfficial you paved the way #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia pic.twitter.com/kUp7MpKMEu
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2018
Sachin acknowledged the tennis star Vijay Amritraj's hard work to become India's one of the best tennis player ever. He wrote, "When I hear @Vijay_Amritraj speak of his parents and the lengths to which they went to support him in becoming one of India's finest Tennis players, it warms my heart. Our families make so many sacrifices so that we may live our dreams. #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia."
When I hear @Vijay_Amritraj speak of his parents and the lengths to which they went to support him in becoming one of India's finest Tennis players, it warms my heart. Our families make so many sacrifices so that we may live our dreams. #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia pic.twitter.com/NyXwm4XD0t
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2018
Badminton great Prakash Padukone was last but not the least. Tendulkar tweeted, "Badminton legend #PrakashPadukone always focused on what was in his control. He followed his father’s advice and made the best of what he had, never letting things he didn’t have a stand in his way. #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia."
Badminton legend #PrakashPadukone always focused on what was in his control. He followed his father’s advice and made the best of what he had, never letting things he didn’t have stand in his way. #NationalSportsDay #SportPLAYINGIndia pic.twitter.com/Elgjh1LPFK
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 29, 2018