New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Friday announced that India’s highest sports award will be renamed after the Major Dhyan Chand hockey wizard, changes that effectively remove the prefix “Rajiv Gandhi” for Khel Ratna.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was launched in 1991-92, which consists of medals, certificates and cash prizes Rs 25 Lakh, now will be known as the main award for Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
The Viswanathan Anand chess legend is the first receiver.
The announcement triggered a discussion on the “political fate” of the decision even though Modi Tweeted that he had gained many requests from residents across the country to give the name Dhyan Chand award.
“Respect for their sentiment, the Khel Ratna award will be hereby called Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna’s main award,” PM said and shared an overview of paying flower tributes to the big Dhyan Chand.
PM, who had interacted with the Indian contingent participating in the Tokyo Olympics and also urged the nation to continue to encourage Indian players, said the extraordinary performance of the men’s hockey team and women had captured the imagination of the entire nation.
“There is a new interest in hockey that appears across the length and breadth of India.
This is a very positive sign for the future,” he added.
BJP praised the announcement made by PM Modi with Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah called it a “true award for one of the biggest Indian sportsmen”.
“Nonating the highest sports honor in the country on behalf of the largest sportsman in the country Dhyan Chand is the true award for him.
The decision will make everyone related to the proud sports world,” Shah said.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Dhyan Chand was a symbol of inspiration and pride for Indian sportsmen.
BJP President J P Nadda said, “nomicating the highest honor of sports after ‘hockey witch’ is a welcome and nation’s decision to include it.” MP party Gautam Gambir, a member of the two World Cup winning teams Cricket, said the Khel Ratna award should be named after sports personality when it was launched.
On ‘public desire’, Khel Ratna renamed after Dhyan Chand
