Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 6 announced that the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sports honour, has been renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The name honours Major Dhyan Chand, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the history of hockey. The prime minister stated that the decision was made in response to countless appeals from around the country. The shift comes at a time when India's hockey teams have captured the nation's imagination with their performance in the Toyko Olympics. After a 41-year wait, the men's hockey team finally earned an Olympic medal on August 5. Major Dhyan Chand, whose birthday is recognised as National Sports Day, helped India win three Olympic gold medals. The Khel Ratna Award, which was established in 1991-92, consists of a medallion, a certificate, and a monetary reward of Rs. 25 lakh. Viswanathan Anand, the first recipient of the Khel Ratna, was a chess legend. Here're 10 important facts to know about Major Dhyan Chand, the hockey legend:
1. On August 29, 1905, Dhyan Chand was born on the Ganga's banks in Allahabad. Dhyan Singh was his given name at birth. His first coach was so impressed with his developing hockey abilities that he predicted the young man would one day sparkle like a chanda (moon).
2. Dhyan Chand earned the nickname "Hockey Wizard" for his exceptional ball control and is widely regarded as the best field hockey player of all time. Between 1928 and 1936, he won three Olympic gold medals for India.
3. He enlisted in the army when he was just 16 years old. Between 1922 and 1926, Dhyan competed in numerous army hockey contests and regimental games, quickly making the game his own.
4. Dhyan Chand was named to the Indian Army hockey squad for their tour to New Zealand in 1926, dazzling everyone with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game.
5. He made it to the Indian squad for the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dhyan Chand was instrumental in India winning three Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
6. India won gold at the 1936 Olympics under Chand's leadership. From 1928 through 1964, India won field hockey events in seven of the eight Olympics, owing largely to the famous player's impact and platform.
7. According to his autobiography book ‘Goal’ , the Wizard scored a whopping amount of 570 goals in 185 games.
8. In 1956, the Government of India bestowed upon Chand India's third-highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan. In the same year, he also withdrew from the army.
9. Major Chand is recognised as one of India's greatest sporting icons of all time. His birthday, August 29, is observed as National Sports Day throughout the country.
10. The national stadium in New Delhi, India's capital, is also named after him as Major Dhyan Chand stadium. The Khel Ratna Award is now known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
