Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that the name of the highest sporting honour in the country will now be named after Dhyan Chand, the legendary hockey player. The PM said that the decision has been taken respecting the sentiments of Indians.

"I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views. Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award," Modi wrote on Twitter.

The decision has won the hearts of Netizens, who have flooded the government with congratulatory and celebratory messages.

However, there are murmurs of fulmination from the Congress party. Congress MP K Suresh said that changing the name is unfortunate. Saying that Rajiv led the country into the 21st century and always encouraged sports, the MP alleged that the BJP government wants to saffronise by changing names.