In 2021, the Centre renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. But many wonder, why despite the public sentiment the country's highest civilian honour continues to elude the man who put Indian hockey on the world map.
PM Modi, Sports Minister Mandaviya lead tributes to Olympian Dhyan Chand on Thursday, August 29, his birth anniversary.
'We are a great sporting country but need to have a sporting powerhouse. We have to make sports as a way of life. To begin this movement on the birthday of Chand is the best tribute we can pay to him'
The discussion was part of a digital campaign which was launched by former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, actors Babushaan Mohanty and Rachel White last year to demand 'Bharat Ratna' for Major Dhyan Chand.
On August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.
Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand will be conferred with the 'Bharat Gaurav' Lifetime Achivement Award by NRI orgainsation Sanskriti Yuva Sangstha at the House of Commons inside the British Parliament of July 25.
The clamour may have been for Sachin Tendulkar, but the Sports Ministry has recommended hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand for the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civillian honour.
'This game against Tottenham will be important for us... to be (around) the top of the league.'
Hockey's premier tournament will be staged over two weeks in February 2010 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium.
Sachin Tendulkar marvelled at India's rise in newer disciplines, while Abhinav Bindra paid tribute to all those who "silently carry the athletes forward" as the two icons offered their views on India's sporting growth on National Sports Day.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) might have told its national campers to stay away from the World Series of Hockey but the SAI-owned Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium will host the opening ceremony and the inaugural match of the controversial event starting December 17.
At last the upcoming World Series Hockey has something to cheer about as the Sports Authority of India has given them permission to conduct matches at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and shifted the national camp for the Olympic qualifiers to Bangalore.
'But looking at our current performance, I'm confident that a medal in the World Cup is not far off.'
Former national hockey player and Member of Parliament Dilip Tirkey on Sunday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise for Major Dhyan Chand and said the hockey wizard should be given Bharat Ratna-country's highest civilian award.
'I feel both deserve to be honoured with Bharat Ratna. Why not? They are our national heroes who have been inspiring a generation of sportspersons and will continue to do so'
The general impression that the Indian hockey team concedes late goals has changed with its second successive Olympic bronze medal and the Harmanpreet Singh-led side is one of the best in the world in all aspects, feels the legendary Zafar Iqbal.
The Indian hockey team on Wednesday, rejected Hockey India's cash reward for winning the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy, saying the paltry amount of Rs 25000 each was not proper recognition of their achievement.
The prolific drag-flicker said the series would be an opportunity to test the team further after its title-winning run in the Asian Champions Trophy in China earlier this month.
Defending champion Indian Railways has been drawn in Group A along with Maharashtra and Kerala in the 2nd Hockey India Senior Women National Championship to be held in Bhopal from October 14 to 23.
Eyeing to clinch its maiden medal in the Commonwealth Games, the Indian men's hockey team will start as favourites against a tricky Malaysia in their opening pool A encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
Italy has replaced Egypt in the men's London Olympics qualifying hockey tournament, to be held here in February next year.
The rising stars of Indian hockey will be under immense pressure but they would aim to rise above it and make a positive start in the Junior Men's World Cup when they take on a formidable Netherlands in their opening tie, in New Delhi on Friday.
While Germany, the defending champions, stayed on course for a historic hat-trick of World Cup crowns with a 4-1 victory over England in the first semi-final, the Aussies, who lost to the Germans in the last two editions of hockey's showpiece event, got the better of The Netherlands 2-1 in a closely-contested match later.
Reigning silver medalists India were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Scotland in their opening Pool A match of the women's hockey event at the Commonwealth Games, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Monday. The Indians fought back from a 0-1 deficit and scored through Jasjeet Kaur Handa (45th minute) after Scotland took the lead in the third minute from a Holly Gram field goal.
Former captain Rajpal Singh got the axe as Hockey India named an 18-member squad for the London Olympics qualifier, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in Delhi, from February 18 to 26. Experienced midfielders Vikram Pillay and Arjun Halappa also failed to find a place in the squad, which will be led by goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.
India suffered their second straight defeat in the men's hockey World Cup, going down 2-5 to Spain in a fast-paced Pool B encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium in Delhi on Thursday night. It was another humiliating defeat for the hosts after the mauling by Australia by a similar margin.
Top-ranked India opens its campaign against Italy on the opening day of the first hockey Olympic Qualifying tournament in New Delhi, from February 18-26, next year.
A dominant India continued their winning spree, outclassing China 4-0 to register their fourth consecutive victory in the men's competition of the Hero Hockey World League Round 2 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.
Following are the images from the FIH Hockey World Cup played at the Dhyan Chand National stadium on Monday.
Foreign players on Monday said that the newly-laid Poligras turf at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, which is hosting the 12th hockey World Cup, is a little bumpy and creates problems in trapping the ball.
Following are the images from the FIH Hockey World Cup at Dhyan Chand National stadium on Sunday.
Italy defeated Ukraine 2-1 while Canada saw off Poland 1-0 in the women's hockey qualifier for the London Olympics at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in Delhi, on Wednesday.
Out of contention for a top-five finish after three consecutive defeats, India would be desperate to end their losing streak when they take on lowly but spirited South Africa in their last pool B match of the hockey World Cup at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Monday.
India suffered an embarrassing defeat to Australia, going down 2-5 in their second outing of the 12th men's hockey World Cup at the Dhyan Chand stadium in Delhi on Tuesday night.
Hockey India announced a 18-member women's squad for the London Olympic qualifiers, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium, New Delhi from February 18.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has barred Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani from attending the opening ceremony of the hockey World Cup in Delhi, according to a media report in Islamabad, on Saturday. Jakhrani was scheduled to visit India to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup and also watch the match between India and Pakistan at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Sunday.
A lacklustre India had to sweat it out before pipping Ireland 3-2 for their third consecutive win in the men's competition of the Hero Hockey World League at the floodlit Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
Aiming to revive hockey fortunes in the country, Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Saturday announced that a top-class national institute will be established at the Dhyan Chand Stadium with initial budget of Rs 20 crore.
Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh and Shivendra Singh scored a double each as India thrashed Pakistan 7-4 in a must-win Pool A match to storm into the semi-finals of the men's hockey event in the Commonwealth Games, at the packed Major Dhyan Chand National stadium, on Sunday.
The Netherlands beat New Zealand in a Pool A match to register their second straight win in the men's hockey World Cup, at the Dhyan Chand National stadium in Delhi, on Wednesday.
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