New Delhi: Khel Ratna award will now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was announced on Friday.
The Khel Ratna award is the highest sports honor in this country.
Officially known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in sports and games.
Some recipients of the past awards included, Virat Kohli, Hockey Legend Sardar Singh, Sania Mirza, Ms Dhoni, Vishwanath Anand, Dhanraj Pillay and Sachin Tendulkar.
“The main Dhyan Chand is among prominent Indian sportsmen who bring honor and pride for India.
It is very suitable that the highest exercise of our nation will be named after,” Modi said in a tweet.
He further said he had gotten a lot of requests from residents throughout India to give the name Khel Ratna award after a big Dhyan Chand.
“Respect for their sentiment, the Khel Ratna award will be hereby called the main award for Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna,” said PM.