Khel Ratna Named After Dhyan Chand: BJP Hails PM Modi, Congress Says 'Surprised'

Digvijaya Singh took a dig at PM Modi, saying he was surprised he named the award after Dhyan Chand and not himself.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, 6 August, that the Khel Ratna award would be named after Major Dhyan Chand. Earlier, the award was named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Several Union ministers thanked PM Modi and welcomed the decision.

Taking to Twitter, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote: "Naming the country's highest sports honor 'Khel Ratna Award' after the greatest sportsperson, Major Dhyan Chand, is a true tribute to him.”

“This decision makes every person associated with the sports world proud, I congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on behalf of all countrymen," he wrote.

देश के सर्वोच्च खेल सम्मान 'खेल रत्न अवार्ड' को देश के महानतम खिलाड़ी मेजर ध्यान चंद जी के नाम पर रखना उन्हें सच्ची श्रद्धांजलि है।

यह खेल जगत से जुड़े हर व्यक्ति के लिए एक गर्व का निर्णय है। मैं इसके लिए प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी का सभी देशवासियों की ओर से अभिनंदन करता हूँ।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 6, 2021