Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

• 05 May 2025

Why in News? 

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports honoured Olympians Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for the year 2023 . 

Key Points 

• About Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Award: 
  • It is considered India's highest sporting honour. 
  • It is given for the most outstanding performance by a sportsperson in the field of sports during the last four years . 
  • In this, the winners are given a medal, certificate and a prize money of Rs 25 lakh . 
  • The award was instituted in the year 1991–92; it was earlier called the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award , which was renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in the year 2021 .  
  • This award is given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. 

Major Dhyan Chand 

• Major Dhyan Chand was born on 29 August 1905 in Prayagraj. 
• He was a field hockey player who played international hockey from the year 1926 to 1949 . 
  • He was a three-time Olympic gold medalist, winning gold in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympic editions. 
• His exceptional skills in the game earned him the title of ‘Hockey Wizard’. 
  • Dhyan Chand, along with his brother Roop Singh, contributed significantly to India's tally of 35 goals, leading to them being known as the 'Hockey Twins'. 
  • In 1934, Dhyan Chand was honoured with the captaincy of the Indian team. 
• Major Dhyan Chand retired from the Army as a Major in the year 1956 and was awarded the Padma Bhushan. 
• National Sports Day is celebrated every year on 29 August on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand to honour his contribution and promote sports culture.