NEW DELHI, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government on Friday announced it has renamed the country's highest sporting honour after hockey legend Dhyan Chand.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Previously named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the award will henceforth be known as 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!" Modi wrote on social media.
The rechristening comes as India's men's hockey team won a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, representing the team's first Olympic medal in 41 years.
"The exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey team has captured the imagination of our entire nation. There is a renewed interest towards hockey that is emerging across the length and breadth of India. This is a very positive sign for the coming times," Modi wrote.
Chand was an Indian field hockey player widely regarded as the greatest in the history of the sport. He was known for his extraordinary goalscoring feats and helped India to successive Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.
Chand's birthday of August 29 is celebrated as National Sports Day in India.
The sporting award in India was launched in 1991. The award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of 2.5 million Indian rupees.
Many in India welcomed the move but were quick to point out that a cricket stadium is named after Modi.
"Absolutely welcome this move. A sportsman getting recognition and an award being named after him or her. Hopefully, the start of many such things," wrote cricketer Irfan Pathan. "Hopefully, in the future, sports stadium names will be after sportsmen too."
Several social media users, including opposition leaders, called for the renaming of Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad after a sportsperson.
In February last year, the Sardar Patel Stadium, named after the former Indian home minister in Ahmedabad, was renamed after Prime Minister Modi.
"Renaming the Khel Ratna Award after the great Major Dhyan Chand itself wouldn't be an issue if even the Narendra Modi stadium was renamed after a sportsman. In absence of that, this change only reeks of political vindictiveness by a petty government!" writes Shama Mohamed, a spokesperson from the opposition Congress party. Enditem
