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.
Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut has opened online registrations for its 2026-27 academic session, offering new undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes in sports, including direct admission for elite athletes and a 10% reservation for outstanding sportspersons.
PM Modi, Sports Minister Mandaviya lead tributes to Olympian Dhyan Chand on Thursday, August 29, his birth anniversary.
On August 29, India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.
'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 prestigious award carries a prize money of Rs 25 lakh.
Indian hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand loved fishing and cooked for his wards when he was a coach, former Olympian Gurbux Singh said on the eve of the master's 105th birth anniversary, to be celebrated in the country as National Sports Day.
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.
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.
Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has written to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, recommending Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu for the Arjuna Award. Despite having received higher honours like the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri, Chanu's childhood dream of the Arjuna Award remains unfulfilled, and Jadhav believes it would be a fitting recognition of her contributions to Indian sport.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused the Samajwadi Party of allowing the ancestral house of eminent hockey player KD Singh 'Babu' in Barabanki to go on sale, asserting that his government intervened to prevent it.
Seventeen Indian sportspersons, including World Cup winning chess player Divya Deshmukh, decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, and shuttler Gayatri Gopichand, have been named for the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2025.
The 73rd edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle saw participation from defence forces and citizens at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
The Sports Ministry is set to commence the nomination process for the National Sports Awards next month, following a delayed announcement of the 2025 awards. The delay was due to a re-evaluation process aimed at preserving the integrity of the honours, which resulted in no Khel Ratna awardee for 2025 and fewer Arjuna awardees than recommended. The article also details the criteria for these prestigious awards and highlights some of the notable Arjuna awardees for 2025.
Praveen Kumar, a para-athlete who overcame physical limitations to excel in high jump, will be awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian para sport. He is a Paralympic champion and Arjuna Award recipient.
'This game against Tottenham will be important for us... to be (around) the top of the league.'
Sixteen years ago, when India and Pakistan last met in a men's Hockey World Cup, the contest was more than just two arch-rivals facing each other. It was about settling an old score. And as the two teams prepare to meet again after 16 years, memories of that evening remain fresh for those who were part of it.
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Prime Minister Narendra D Modi interacted with India's Asian Para Games contingent at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
The National Sports Awards in India have been delayed due to a re-evaluation process aimed at ensuring only deserving athletes receive the honour. The Sports Ministry is reassessing Arjuna Award recommendations to maintain the award's value and avoid controversies.
India's men's hockey team has experienced a varied journey in the World Cup, from winning bronze in 1971 and gold in 1975 to a prolonged period without a podium finish.
Hockey star Hardik Singh lone recommendation for Khel Ratna; Divya, TJ & Mehuli for Arjuna
The National Sports Awards have been delayed due to a re-evaluation process by the Sports Ministry to ensure only deserving athletes are honoured. The ministry aims to establish clearer criteria to avoid controversies and ensure deserving athletes are recognised without unnecessary hurdles.
Modi leads politicians and sportspersons in wishing countrymen on National Sports Day
Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur were named Hockey India Player of the Year in the men's and women's categories, respectively, at a ceremony in New Delhi. Several other players, officials, and member units were also recognised for their contributions to Indian hockey.
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.
Akanksha, 26, will take on Delhi's teen sensation Anahat, who rallied to beat state-mate Tanvi Khanna 3-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-9, in the title round.
The para-athletes outnumbered the able-bodied ones in the list this time due to the magnificent Paris Paralympics performance in which they returned with 29 medals, including seven gold and nine silver.
On November 30, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Sports and Adventure Awards 2022 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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.
Modi said India is blessed with immense sporting talent, and to harness this potential, a portal was launched by the Sports Ministry.
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.
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.
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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.
Images from the two semi-final encounters of the 12th World Cup Hockey in New Delhi on Thursday.
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.
Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh refutes rumours of a rift with Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, expressing his desire to surpass Tirkey's record and continue playing until the Asian Games.
Shami was there to receive the honours. He took 24 wickets in seven World Cup games last year.
