[[{“value”:”
India`s highest sports award is named after Dhyan Chand. On the occasion of his birthday, the country celebrates `National Sports Day`, and many stadiums across India stand in his honour.
But despite all the appeals and public movements, the Bharat Ratna continues to avoid the hockey stalwart Major Dhyan Chand.
In 2021, the Centre renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. But many wonder, why, despite the public sentiment,t the country`s highest civilian honour continues to elude the man who put Indian hockey on the world map.
Former hockey player Dilip Tirkey said that Dhyan Chand was the greatest player in his time.
“Dhyanchand was the greatest player in the world in his time. I always say that hockey is the sport which got us out first Olympic gold medals and Major Dhyan Chand`s contribution is incomparable,” Tirkey told PTI.
He also pointed out that if the country`s highest sports award is named after him, then why is he still not awarded with Bharat Ratna?
“If the country`s biggest sports award is named after him, the National Stadium is named after him, then why not he is given a Bharat Ratna?,” he questioned.
Dhyan Chand, who was the architect of gold medals in three consecutive Olympics (Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936), put India`s strong presence on the world sports map for the first time.
He also holds the record of scoring the most goals (570 in 185 matches) in the history of the sport.
His son, Ashok Dhyan Chand, said that his father always stayed away from publicity. A player`s name reverberating even after his death is the sign of a great player.
“He was the first to put India on the world sporting map. Even 46 years after his death, his name is echoing today and this is called the legacy of a great player. I am proud of him for always staying away from publicity,” said Ashok.
He was awarded the country`s third-highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan, in 1956 but repeatedly ignored for Bharat Ratna.
(With PTI Inputs)
“}]]
