New Delhi: The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honour of India, has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced on Friday.
Narendra Modi said the move was based on the numerous requests he received from across the nation.
“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 the Modi with #JaiHind.
The change comes at a time India’s hockey teams have captivated the imagination of India with their performance at the Toyko Olympics.
The women’s hockey team today narrowly missed out on a bronze medal drawing curtains on its spirited show at the Olympics. Yesterday, the men’s hockey team won an Olympic bronze after a wait of 41 years.
“The exceptional performance of the men’s and women’s Hockey Team has captured the imagination of our entire nation,” Modi said, adding “there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is emerging across the length and breadth of India.”
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