New Delhi: The demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on hockey legend Dhyan Chand gained momentum on Wednesday, with the sports ministry writing to the Prime Minister’s Office on the matter.
“Yes, we have written to the Prime Minister about Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand. Conferring the honour posthumously will be a fitting tribute to his exceptional service to the country,” sports minister Vijay Goel was quoted as saying.
It may be recalled that this is not the first time that the ministry has sought the country’s highest civilian honour for Dhyan Chand, who helped India win three gold medals at the Olympics (1928, 1932, and 1936).
During the UPA rule in 2013, the ministry had nominated the hockey wizard’s name for the honour over cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar.
However in the same year, Tendulkar became the first sportsperson to receive the award.
