Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Renamed
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Renamed
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New Delhi: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the new name for the Khel Ratna Award.
“I have 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!” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Friday.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was previously honoured with the nation's highest sporting honour.
Following the success of India's hockey teams in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the clamour for change grew on social media.
In 1991-1992, chess master Viswanathan Anand was the inaugural recipient of the award. The prize money for this award is Rs 25 lakh.
Major Dhyan Chand, the Hockey Wizard, was a significant figure in India's three consecutive gold medal victories at the Olympics in 1928, 1932, and 1936, scoring over 400 goals in a 23-year international career.
In India, his birthday, August 29, is also known as National Sports Day.
