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EXCLUSIVE - Virender Sehwag celebrates National Sports Day with shot putter OP Karhana and para-shuttler Sanjeev Kumar

National Sports Day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, the hockey player who won gold medals in Olympics for India.

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Everyone today (29 August) is celebrating National Sports Day. This day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, the hockey player who won gold medals in Olympics for India in the years 1928, 1932 and 1936. 

On this auspicious day, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag along with shot putter Om Prakash Singh Karhana and para-shuttler Sanjeev Kumar interacted with DNA Web to talk about the difficulties and the necessities a person requires to become an athlete.

The batsman when asked to give a message to the children regarding sports, said, "Khelo Kudo, lekin padho bhi (Play hard but even study). The advantage of playing is that it improves your concentration and increases your focus which helps you study for a longer time.

"Even in my schools, I have noticed a lot of difference between the kids that play and those that don't. The ones who play, their concentration and focus level is high. This is the advantage when you play for half an hour to one hour a day.

"Playing any sport will benefit your body and make your mind sharper", he concluded.

Indian shot put player OP Karhana also spoke about how schools to develop new talent at and requested all to make sure each institute have a playground. He said, "Every school should have a playground to help search young talent.

"Without proper grounds and coaches, nothing can be achieved. If we need more players to represent India, we need to make sure schools start at ground level".

Indian para-shuttler Sanjeev Kumar - who had his own share of struggles - spoke about encouraging new talent. With polio being a big obstacle, Sanjeev never felt as a differently-abled player.

On the occasion of National Sports Day, the badminton player had one message for every differently-abled person who is aspiring to become an athlete. He said, "I have faced the difficulties and hardships so my only aim is to inspire 10-15 more differently-abled youngsters and make them pursue their dreams. I want people to spread the word about sports and connect them to the idea of sports. 

"The advantage of sports is that one - the kids will be fit and two that their growth is faster mentally and physically. Any person pursuing sports is never negative as he has seen the good and the bad, the ups and downs".

Sanjeev even said that today's generation can easily be influenced by drugs. he said that sports ca help stop this.

"Sports can help keep children away from drugs. It hurts to see today's youth get influenced so easily. So sports is good in many ways.

The athletes were present at the book launch of Umeed India in Mumbai. Umeed India is a sports series on EPIC channel which in 2017 travelled across India and met the upcoming sports stars who will be representing India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The series is now being adapted into a book.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also today launched the “Fit India Movement” and has appealed to every citizen to remain healthy and fit. 

"Fitness has always been an integral part of our culture. But, there is indifference towards fitness issues now. A few decades back, a normal person would walk 8-10km in a day, do cycling or run," Modi said.

"But, with technology, physical activity has reduced. We walk less now and the same technology tells us that we are not walking enough," he added.

The launch was also attended by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and National Sports Awards 2019 winners among others.

"We will take this movement to new heights with the cooperation of my fellow Indians. I am so glad that this movement is being launched on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, our hockey wizard," Rijiju said at the launch.

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