National
Sports
Day
(NSD)
is
celebrated
every
year
on
August
29th
to
honor
India’s
rich
heritage
and
tradition
in
sports.
This
day
is
dedicated
not
only
to
professional
athletes
but
also
to
remembering
those
whose
lives
have
been
touched
by
sports
in
meaningful
ways.
While
we
often
see
Bollywood
stars
on
the
silver
screen,
many
of
them
have
had
athletic
beginnings
that
are
less
known
to
their
fans.

Before
these
actors
chose
the
path
of
acting,
they
were
passionate
about
various
sports
and
even
represented
themselves
at
competitive
levels
during
their
younger
years.
On
this
National
Sports
Day,
let’s
take
a
look
at
some
of
these
Bollywood
stars
who
were
once
deeply
involved
in
the
world
of
sports:

Saiyami
Kher
–
Sprinting/Cricket/Badminton:

Saiyami
Kher
is
renowned
for
her
athletic
discipline,
which
she
has
maintained
even
after
becoming
a
successful
actor.
Before
stepping
into
the
world
of
films,
Saiyami
was
actively
involved
in
sports
and
played
cricket,
badminton,
and
sprinting
at
zonal
and
district-level
tournaments.
Currently,
she
is
preparing
for
an
international
sporting
event
known
as
Ironman.
This
triathlon
race
will
see
her
compete
in
cycling,
swimming,
and
sprinting,
showcasing
her
versatile
athletic
skills
and
dedication
to
sports.

Richa
Chadha
–
Kabaddi:

Richa
Chadha,
known
for
her
versatility
as
an
actor,
was
a
dedicated
Kabaddi
player
during
her
school
days
in
Delhi.
The
“Fukrey”
actress,
who
recently
became
a
mother,
represented
her
school
in
zonal
Kabaddi
tournaments
across
the
city.
Her
early
training
in
Kabaddi
proved
invaluable
when
she
was
cast
in
the
film
“Panga,”
where
she
portrayed
a
Kabaddi
player.
This
role
allowed
her
to
draw
on
her
own
experiences
and
skills
from
her
days
as
a
young
athlete.

Ali
Fazal
–
Basketball:

Before
Ali
Fazal
became
a
renowned
actor,
he
was
an
avid
basketball
player
during
his
time
at
Doon
School.
Ali
actively
participated
in
various
zonal
and
intercollegiate
basketball
tournaments
and
initially
aspired
to
pursue
a
career
in
basketball.
However,
due
to
a
serious
injury,
he
was
forced
to
step
away
from
the
sport
and
explore
alternative
career
paths.
This
unexpected
turn
of
events
ultimately
led
him
to
the
world
of
acting,
where
he
went
on
to
become
the
much-loved
“Guddu
Bhaiya.”

Gulshan
Devaiah
–
Javelin

Gulshan
Devaiah,
one
of
the
most
talented
actors
of
recent
times,
has
truly
been
a
jack
of
all
trades
before
finding
his
calling
in
the
Hindi
film
industry.
Before
pursuing
acting,
Gulshan
was
on
a
path
to
become
a
fashion
designer,
having
graduated
in
fashion.
Even
before
his
fashion
career,
he
was
an
active
sports
enthusiast
and
excelled
as
a
javelin
thrower
during
his
academic
years.
The
“Ulajh”
actor
ranked
number
one
in
district-level
sporting
events,
but
he
couldn’t
quite
make
it
to
the
state
level.
This
led
him
to
explore
his
other
talents,
eventually
transitioning
to
fashion
design
and
later
finding
his
passion
for
acting.

Akshay
Oberoi
–
Sprinting:

Akshay
Oberoi,
the
blue-eyed
boy
who
recently
garnered
much
love
and
success
for
his
performance
in
Fighter,
was
a
sports
enthusiast
long
before
making
his
mark
in
the
film
industry.
Born
and
raised
in
New
Jersey,
US,
Akshay
was
an
avid
cross-country
marathon
sprinter
during
his
university
days.
He
participated
in
various
marathons
across
New
Jersey,
showcasing
his
athletic
prowess
before
discovering
his
passion
for
acting
and
answering
the
call
of
Bollywood.

Anushka
Ranjan
–
Swimming:

Anushka
Ranjan,
an
actor
and
humanitarian
best
known
for
her
foundation
for
the
girl
child,
Beti,
once
aspired
to
be
a
professional
sportswoman
as
a
swimmer.
During
her
school
days,
Anushka
actively
participated
in
various
inter-school
and
zonal
swimming
competitions,
earning
accolades
for
both
herself
and
her
school.
Although
she
eventually
pursued
a
career
in
the
film
industry,
Anushka’s
passion
for
swimming
remains
strong.
Whenever
she
finds
the
time,
she
returns
to
the
pool,
reconnecting
with
her
first
love.

Nimrit
Kaur
Ahluwalia
–
Sprinter:

Before
making
her
mark
on
television
as
an
actress,
Khatron
Ke
Khiladi
contestant
Nimrit
Kaur
Ahluwalia
was
an
avid
sports
enthusiast
during
her
academic
years
in
Delhi.
Nimrit
excelled
as
a
sprinter,
participating
in
various
Delhi
zonal
tournaments
and
securing
first
place
in
the
100,
200,
and
400-meter
races.
Her
athletic
background
is
one
of
the
reasons
she
continues
to
win
the
hearts
of
her
fans
by
successfully
completing
one
challenging
task
after
another
in
the
ongoing
season
of
Khatron
Ke
Khiladi.

Aditya
Seal
–
Martial
Arts:

The
Khel
Khel
Mein
actor
Aditya
Seal
has
been
a
dedicated
martial
artist
for
many
years,
specializing
in
Taekwondo.
He
began
his
training
at
the
age
of
15
and
continues
to
practice
the
art
to
this
day.
Aditya
holds
a
third
dan
black
belt
and
has
competed
in
numerous
tournaments,
both
in
India
and
South
Korea,
where
he
has
even
won
international
gold
medals.
Martial
arts
have
become
a
way
of
life
for
him,
and
with
his
extensive
experience,
fans
are
eager
to
see
him
in
a
high-octane
action
film
soon,
much
like
his
inspiration,
Akshay
Kumar.