Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
First Published: 6th August, 2021 16:34 IST
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.
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Stones pelted in Longding during scrutiny of nomination papers
28th March 2024Live Assam: Bhutan king visits Dhubri on way back home from Bangladesh
28th March 2024Live Assamese documentary ‘Fehujali’ wins ‘Best Short Documentary’ award at 7th New Delhi Film Festival
28th March 2024Live Over 5,000 people from Muslim community join BJP in Assam today
28th March 2024WE RECOMMEND
“Always been glorious right-wing personality”: Kangana Ranaut opens up on donning a hat of politician
Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday opened about her new role as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
28th March 2024About 80,000 leaders, workers from different parties join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections
According to party sources, this committee has successfully brought in approximately 80,000 leaders and workers from different parties across the country into the BJP
28th March 2024No interim relief to Kejriwal on plea challenging arrest, BJP hits out at AAP leader
The plea stated that the petitioner has been "illegally and arbitrarily arrested" by ED in the evening of March 21.
28th March 2024Indigo plane grazes past Air India Express plane, narrow escape for passengers in Kolkata
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has off-rostered both the IndiGo A320 VT-ISS pilots and ordered a detailed probe
27th March 2024Bigg Boss winner Munawar Faruqui among 14 detained in raid on Mumbai hookah bar
According to Mumbai Police, a case was registered against Faruqi and 13 more people. Faruqui was later let off after the case was lodged.
27th March 2024