After heart-thumping hockey performances by both men and women in the Tokyo Olympics, it’s time to say hello to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award and a goodbye to Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to announce that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award which has felicitated numerous sportspersons that made the country proud, has now been named after the hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. Chand Led the Indian hockey team to the summits of the sport during the 1920s and 1930s.

Contents hide
1. Details
2. Name Changed after “Requests from Citizens”
3. Major Dhyan Chand – The Wizard of Hockey
4. Helping India Score Gold Medal Hattrick
5. Other Merits Conferred to Major Dhyan Chand
6. Brief History of Khel Ratna Award

Details

On Friday, August 6, two major developments emerged in and around the world of Indian hockey. While the Indian women’s hockey team bowed out of the Olympics, suffering a 4-3 loss in its bronze bout, PM Modi rechristened the name of highest sporting honour to former Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand’s name.

Name Changed after “Requests from Citizens”

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will be named after the hockey wizard. In his tweet, PM Modi wrote, “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! Jai Hind!”

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In a separate tweet, PM Modi explained the reasoning and said how Major Dhyan Chand was a sportsperson who brought “honour and pride for India”. “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,” he added in his tweet.

Major Dhyan Chand – The Wizard of Hockey

Also known as “The Wizard” of hockey, Dhyan Chand was inducted in the Indian hockey team after it was included in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Lauded for his stick-work and immaculate control, he helped India bag its first ever gold in the Amsterdam Olympics. Further, he became the top-scorer for his team with 14 goals in 5 matches.

Also Read: Indian Women’s Hockey Team Misses Bronze Medal by Whisker, Loses to Great Britain by 3-4

Helping India Score Gold Medal Hattrick

In the next Olympics, history repeated itself and India defended its gold medal in the Los Angels Olympic Games. The golden rush continued in the 1932 Olympics as well as Chand scored jaw-dropping 38 goals in the season. India successfully defended its gold and made a hat-trick of gold in Olympics.

Other Merits Conferred to Major Dhyan Chand

For his brilliance on and off the field, Chand was given Padma Bhushan – the third biggest civilian award in 1956. Further, in 2002, it was announced that the country’s highest lifetime sport achievement award would be named after him. Moreover, in the same year, the Delhi’s National Stadium was rechristened as Major Dhyan Chand stadium.

On Major Dhyan Chand’s anniversary, the country also celebrates the National Sports Day (August 29).

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Brief History of Khel Ratna Award

Formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, it is an award that’s given to sportspersons for their “spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years”. The award was instituted in 1991-29 and it comprises of a certificate that’s awarded by the Indian president, a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakhs and a shining medallion.

The first ever Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was awarded to chess legend and Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand and since then it has been awarded to several prominent sportspersons such as boxing star Mary Kom, women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, wrestling sensation Bajrang Punia, current Indian skipper Virat Kohli and more.