By putting his predecessor to history, Modi announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed after India's hockey legend Dhyan Chand as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Thakur took to Twitter and wrote, "Major Dhyan Chand is India’s most legendary & loved sporting icons; it is only befitting that India’s Highest Sporting Honour be named after him."