Last Updated on November 12, 2021 12: 08am
India’s highest sporting honour – the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed.
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From now onwards, it will be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.
The announcement of renaming the Award comes just a day after India’s men’s hockey team clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, ending a 41-year drought at summer games.
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Also read: Tokyo Olympics: Indian eves lose bronze medal match to Great Britain in hockey
“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!” tweeted PM Modi.
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!
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/zbStlMNHdq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021
“The exceptional performance of the Men’s and Women’s Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation. There is a renewed interest towards Hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times,” the Prime Minister said in another tweet.