The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was renamed to honor which sports personality?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Dhyan Chand
Explanation:
In August 2021, the Government of India renamed the country's highest sporting honor—the 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award'—to the 'Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award'. This decision was taken with the objective of paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand often hailed as the 'Wizard of Hockey' and to promote the spirit of sportsmanship. Major Dhyan Chand played a pivotal role in helping India secure gold medals at the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympic Games. This award is presented annually on the occasion of National Sports Day to athletes who have demonstrated outstanding performance at the international level over a period of the preceding four years.
Additional Points:
First Recipient: Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand (1991–92) was the first winner of this award.
National Sports Day: Celebrated annually on August 29th to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.
Prize Money: Currently, a cash prize of ₹25 lakh is awarded to the winner of this award.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: Who was the first athlete to receive the Khel Ratna Award?
Answer: Viswanathan Anand.
Question: When is 'National Sports Day' celebrated in India?
Answer: August 29th.