New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the changed the name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Prime Minister Modi in a tweet said the renaming of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award came after he received numerous requests across the nation.

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, Modi said in a tweet. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

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! pic.twitter.com/zbStlMNHdq

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2021

Major Dhyan Chand’s birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day. He won three Olympic Gold Medals for the country in his career. Major Dhyan Chand is India’s most legendary & loved sporting icons; it is only befitting that India’s Highest Sporting Honour be named after him.

With the #KhelRatna Award renamed as the 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award', take a look at some of the interesting facts about the Wizard of the Hockey World. 🏑 @PMOIndia @PIB_India @MIB_India @YASMinistry @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/68TCrS3cXi

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) August 6, 2021

Rajiv Khel Ratna Award was launched in the name of the former late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 – 92, in memory of him, after he was assassinated by LTTE at Sri Perambur in Tamil Nadu. The Rajiv Khel Ratna Award comprises a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹ 25 lakh.

The first recipient of the Khel Ratna was Chess legend Vishwanathan Anand. Some of the winners in recent years include cricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, and women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, among others.