PM Modi Announces Renaming Of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award After Hockey Legend Major Dhyan Chand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (6 August) announced the renaming of India's highest sports award Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

PM Modi said that he was getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand.

"Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award!," PM Modi said in a tweet.

"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," he said in another tweet.

Major Dhyan Chand, known as the wizard or magician of hockey, is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the sport. He was known for his superb ball control. He played internationally from 1926 to 1949 and scored over 550 goals in 185 matches.

The Khel Ratna award, which was instituted in 1991-92 as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, is the highest sporting honour in India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.