New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is no longer with the Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting award! Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, which has been known for years, has been renamed after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. In a brief note posted on Twitter, the Prime Minister explained that the name change was in the context of applications received by him from different parts of the country.
‘I have been receiving requests from various parts of the country for some time to transfer the Khel Ratna award to Major Dhyan Chand. Thank you for their suggestion and such a vision. ‘
‘At the request of the people who raised this demand, the Khel Ratna Award will henceforth be known as the Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award. Jai Hind ‘- Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
‘Major Dhyanchand is one of India’s leading athletes in the world of sports. It is fitting that the most important sports award in our country should be named after him ‘- Modi said in another tweet.
Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, hockey players Dhanraj Pillai, Sardar Singh, Rani Rampal, tennis players Leander Paes, Sania Mirza, chess player Viswanathan Anand, badminton players Pullela Gopinath, V. Sindhu, shooting star Abhinav Bindra, boxer Mary Kom, Malayalee athletes Anju Bobby George, K.M. Beanamol and others are the recipients of this award. So far, 36 people have received the Khel Ratna with an award of Rs 25 lakh.
Major Dhyanchand
Major Dhyan Chand is an Indian legend known as the ‘Hockey Magician’. He was active in international hockey from 1926 to 1949. He has scored over 400 goals throughout his career. Born in Allahabad, Dhyan Chand was a member of the Indian team that won Olympic gold in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
Apart from the Khel Ratna, the Dhyan Chand Award is given for comprehensive contribution in the field of sports. The Dhyan Chand Award was introduced in 2002. The National Stadium in New Delhi was renamed as Dhyanchand National Stadium in 2002.
English Summary: Khel Ratna Award renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
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