The sports world has welcomed the decision to name India’s highest sports honor Khel Ratna award as Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna in place of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. Dhyan Chand is considered to be the greatest hockey player.
Dhyan Chand had won the top Olympic title in 1928, 1932, and 1936 during his career from 1926 to 1949. The country’s National Sports Day is also celebrated on 29 August to commemorate his birth anniversary.
Anju Bobby George, India’s only athletics medalist at the World Championships and the recipient of the award in 2003, said sports awards should be named after sportspersons.
He said, “It is high time that we name our sports awards after the legends of our sport. This is the right move. Dhyan Chand is our sports hero and hockey legend and hockey is our national sport.
The country’s highest sports award has been named after Dhyan Chand at a time when India won an Olympic medal in hockey after 41 years.
Appreciating this decision, former hockey captain Ajitpal Singh said, “It is a welcome step. It is a good decision that the Prime Minister has taken. Sports awards should always be in the name of sportspersons and there is no sportsperson in the country bigger than Dhyan Chand Ji. This recognition came late, but better late than never.”
News Source: jibeop.com
