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| Major Dhyan Chand also served as a Major for 34 years between 1922-1956 |
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the renaming of the Khel Ratna Award. The award which was officially known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will now be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
PM Modi said that this decision was taken after the government received a lot of request form many citizens of India.
This announcement comes a day after the Indian Men' Hockey team ended their 41 year old drought of an Olympic Medal in Hockey.
"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" tweeted PM Modi.
"Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" said PM Modi in another 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021
Some of the recipients of the award in the past include Current Cricket team captain Virat Kohli, Former Cricketers MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Former Tennis player Sania Mirza, Hockey Legend Sardar Singh, Chess Grandmaster Vishwanath Anand and Former Hockey player Dhanraj Pillay.
Major Dhyan Chand is considered to be one of the greatest players of field hockey. He was nicknamed The Wizard for his outstanding control over the ball. He helped India (British India) claim 3 consecutive Gold Medals at the Olympic Games from 1928-1936.
His performance at the 1936 Berlin Games left many people impressed. According to reports Adolf Hitler even gave him an offer to play for Germany and the position of Colonel in the German Army which Dhyan Chand refused with a smile.
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