The central government has taken a big decision related to sports on Friday. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Announcing this decision, Modi said that this award will respect the sentiments of the people of our country.
Modi said- Dhyan Chand was the first player of India, who brought honor and pride to the country. The highest sports award in the country should be named after him.
See Here: Trending Songs
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
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was Instituted in 1991-92
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest award in Indian sports. The award was instituted by the government in 1991-92. The winning player is given a citation, award and an amount of Rs 25 lakh. The first Khel Ratna award was given to the first Indian Grand Master Viswanathan Anand. So far 45 people have been given this award. Recently, cricketer Rohit Sharma, Paralympian high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu, table tennis player Manika Batra, wrestler Vinesh Phogat have been given this award.
3 Hockey Players Got Khel Ratna Award
So far 3 players have received Khel Ratna Award in Hockey. It stars Dhanraj Pillay (1999/2000), Sardar Singh (2017) and Rani Rampal (2020).
Dhyan Chand is Called the Magician of Hockey
Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905 in Prayagraj. In India this day is celebrated as National Sports Day. Dhyan Chand joined the Indian Army at the age of just 16. He used to practice hockey in the moonlight after duty, hence he came to be called Dhyan Chand. Due to his sport, India won gold medals in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics. He scored 14 goals in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Then a local newspaper wrote, ‘It was magic, not hockey and Dhyan Chand is the magician of hockey.’ From then on he came to be called the magician of hockey.
Read Here: Latest Sports News
Historic Performance of Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams in Tokyo Olympics
After the historic performance of the women’s and men’s hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics, people have started giving love to hockey again in the country. While the men’s team managed to win a medal after 41 years, the women’s team reached the semi-finals of the Olympics for the first time. The men’s team last won a medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Then he captured the gold medal.
