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 Nagaland: Cong backs indefinite shutdown by Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)
27th April 2024Live Assam: CM Himanta Biswa responds to former BJP Nagaon MP Rajen Gohain’s anti-party remark
27th April 2024Live High speed car accident in US: 3 women from Gujarat dead
27th April 2024Live Nagaland: Is taxation by NPGs legal or illegal? Dimapur business community asks Nagaland Govt
27th April 2024WE RECOMMEND
Students write ‘Jai Shri Ram pass ho jaayein’, scores 56%
The incident occurred at Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, a state university in UP's Jaunpur.
27th April 2024Congress lodges police complaint against ‘fake video’ of Rahul Gandhi circulated on social media
The party stated that the video aims to "destroy" the religious harmony of the country and portray the party in a negative light. The party also attacked a copy of the video along with the complaint.
27th April 2024‘Spiderman’ lands in Delhi police net
After a video of the duo's stunts in Dwarka on a bike without a number plate went viral on social media, Delhi Police apprehended them and booked them under the Motor Vehicle Act for various offenses including dangerous driving and riding without helmets among others.
26th April 2024Voting begins in 88 seats in second phase of Lok Sabha elections
IMD has forecast normal weather for phase two Lok Sabha polls.
26th April 2024Lok Sabha Polls 2024 Phase 2: India gets ready to vote tomorrow
Among the 1206 candidates are 61 candidates contesting for 5 Lok Sabha seats of Assam, 9 candidates contesting for the Tripura East seat and 4 candidates contesting for the Outer Manipur seat.
25th April 2024