India’s highest sporting honour – the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed.
From now onwards, it will be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
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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.
Also read: Tokyo Olympics: Indian eves lose bronze medal match to Great Britain in hockey
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“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.