The government of India on Friday has renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award after Hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand following the immense success of men’s and women’s hockey teams at Tokyo Olympics.
Prime Minster Narendra Modi tweeted while informing the renaming of the sports award, “Considering the sentiments of the people, it is now being renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award”.
Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad (present day Prayagraj) Major Dhyanchand who played approximately all of his games during British India has brought 3 Gold medals to India in 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympics.
Major Dhyan Chand started his charismatic hockey career in 1928. Dhyan Chand appeared in 185 games and hit 570 goals during his career. He played till 1949.
Netizens have appreciated the PM Modi’s move of renaming the highest sporting honour of the country and called for more such move.
Some people on internet see the move as politically motivated and question the moral ground of the action.
A twitter user replied to Modi’s tweet, “Why to name a sports stadium after your name then. Why “Narendra Modi Stadium”?? You should rename it after some player. But yeah, you are a player. Wah modi hi wahh.. double standards.
In 1956, Dhyan Chand was awarded the Padma Bhushan award, India’s third highest civilian award. His birthday on August 29 is celebrated as Sports Day in India.
Meanwhile, many former hockey players and Dhyan Chand’s kin have been demanding Bharat Ratna for the legendary hockey player. But the demand has been stonewalled many a times now.
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