Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

India’s highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award on Friday was rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men’s and women’s hockey teams

India’s highest sporting honour Khel Ratna Award on Friday was rechristened in the honour of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand following the admirable performance of both men’s and women’s hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics.

This comes a day after the Indian men’s hockey team won the Bronze medal after 41 years at the Olympic Games.

Taking to Twitter Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he has been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views.”

“Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!,” he added.

He further said, “Major Dhyan Chand was among India’s foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation’s highest sporting honour will be named after him.”

The exceptional performance of the men’s and women’s Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation, the prime minister said, adding that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times, he said.

The prestigious award carries a prize money of Rs 25 lakh. The award was earlier named after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Dhyan Chand was a legendary hockey player known for his magical hockey skills. He was part of the Indian hockey team which struck gold in the Olympics of 1928, 1932, and 1936.

On August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of the hockey wizard.

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