Khel Ratna renamed after Dhyan Chand

NEW DELHI: The Union government renamed the country’s highest sports award, the Khel Ratna, after hockey legend Dhyan Chand on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting that the decision was taken on popular demand, a day after the Indian men’s hockey team won a bronze at Tokyo 2020, the country’s first Olympic medal in 41 years.

The award was established in 1991-92 and named the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, after the former prime minister who was killed during an election rally in May 1991.

Dhyan Chand is revered as a hockey wizard in India for his stick work and dribbling skills and spearheaded India’s Olympic

wins in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

“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,” Modi tweeted on Friday. “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 further tweeted.

The Khel Ratna award comprises a medallion, certificate and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.

Union finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, welcomed the announcement. “Honouring the popular sentiment, a timely decision by Hon. @PMOIndia Khel Ratna Award shall now be known as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. #motivation #TeamIndia,” she tweeted.

Assam chief minister and Badminton Association of India president, Himanta Biswa Sarma, too hailed the move. “Heartily welcome the decision taken by Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodiji to rename the Khel Ratna Award after India’s legendary sports icon Major Dhyan Chand. This decision will go a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of a #NewIndia, which recognises its real heroes,” Sarma tweeted.

The Congress welcomed the renaming of the sporting honour but accused Modi of playing “myopic politics” in the name of sportspersons.

“Congress welcomes that the

Khel Ratna Puraskar has been named after the one of the most celebrated sportspersons and hockey wizard Dhyan Chand...we sincerely hope that Modi ji should not have used his myopic political motives to drag the name of a celebrated player like Major Dhyan Chand,” said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

“Modi ji, you reduced the sports budget by Rs 230 crores in an Olympic year and now you are trying to be myopic and also deflect attention from core and fundamental issues...” he added.

Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh criticised the decision.

“Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he led the country into the 21st century. He encouraged sports, youth. This government wants to saffronise and that’s why they gave another name,” he said.