Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed after hockey great Dhyan Chand

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 6

India’s highest sporting honour, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was on Friday renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making the announcement on Twitter.

“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 said.

The BJP leaders termed the move as token of gratitude to India’s hockey legend and sportspersons who had brought glory to the country.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala also welcomed the renaming but said, “Now that a new beginning has been made, we hope the PM will announce changing the name of Narendra Modi Stadium and Arun Jaitley stadium after legendary sportspersons.”

Surjewala said, “We hope Modi ji should not have used his myopic political motives to drag the name of a celebrated player like Major Dhyan Chand.”