Major Dhyan Chand Award is highest sporting honour of India. Major Dhyan Chand Award was formerly known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. The Award is named Hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting award given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the Spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years. The country’s highest award for lifetime achievements in sports is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. It was instituted in 2002.
The khel Ratna Award in instituted in 1991-92 and the first recipient was Chess legend Vishvanathan Anand. The Award comprises a medallion, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 7.5 Lakh. The National Stadium in New Delhi was also renamed as the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002. The National Sports Day is observed every year across India on 29th August to mark the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, who was born on 29th August 1905.
Major Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad, he was part of the Olympic team that won gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936. Dhyan Chand known as the wizard. Hockey player Dhyan Chand played a international hockey from 1926 to 1949, scoring over 400 goals in his career.
Recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and honoured for their contributions to sport both during their active sporting career and after retirement. As of 2020, the award comprises a statuette, a certificate ,ceremonial dress, and a Cash prise of 10 Lakh. The Award was given only to the disciplines included in the events like Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and World Cup along with Cricket, Indigenous Games, Parasports. The first recipients of the award were Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing), and Aparna Ghosh (Basketball), who were honoured in 2002.
To see more post visit our official website
