RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD RENAMED AS MAJOR DHYAN CHAND KHEL RATNA AWARD

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, as per an announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 6 AUGUST 2021.

It is the highest sporting honour of India and was instituted in 1991-1992 and comes with a cash prize of 25 lakh.

Allahabad-born Major Dhyan Chand was legendary field hockey player, who played international hockey from 1926 to 1949, scoring over 400 goals in his career.

Dhyan Chand was a part of the Olympic team that won gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.