New Delhi (SunstarTV Bureau): The India Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed that he was naming the nation’s highest award for sports in response to many requests from citizens across Country which will now be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Pertaining to mention here that, Major Dhyan Chand won three Olympic gold medals for India from 1928 to 1936.
“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!,” Tweeted Modi today.
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
“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,” said Modi.
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021
Previously, in 1991-92, the Khel Ratna Award was named after the late former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and India’s chess prodigy Viswanathan Anand was its first recipient. Followed by other recipients are Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani, boxer Mary Kom, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, shooters Abhinav Bindra and Vijay Kumar, shuttler PV Sindhu and wrestler Sushil Kumar.
The Award is administered by the Sports Ministry and given away every year at a special function by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
