Legendary athlete Milkha Singh on Tuesday expressed his delight at home ministry recommending the name of hockey great late Major Dhyan Chand for the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country. Speaking from Chandigarh, Milkha said Dhyan Chand should have been the first sportsperson from India to have got this award.
‘I am delighted to hear the news that late Major Dhyan Chand has been nominated for the Bharat Ratna by the home ministry. Major Dhyan Chand was one of the finest sportsmen from India and brought several laurels to our country in hockey. I always believed that he should perhaps have been the first to receive the Bharat Ratna,’ said one of India’s finest athletes. ‘Sportsmen make the finest ambassadors for the country and I’m sure the entire nation will be happy to hear about this decision to nominate him for the award. There’s no reason why a top sportsperson should not be nominated as ambassador, governor or member of Parliament, because they dedicate their lives to the nation,’ he added.
‘I am delighted to hear the news that late Major Dhyan Chand has been nominated for the Bharat Ratna by the home ministry. Major Dhyan Chand was one of the finest sportsmen from India and brought several laurels to our country in hockey. I always believed that he should perhaps have been the first to receive the Bharat Ratna,’ said one of India’s finest athletes. ‘Sportsmen make the finest ambassadors for the country and I’m sure the entire nation will be happy to hear about this decision to nominate him for the award. There’s no reason why a top sportsperson should not be nominated as ambassador, governor or member of Parliament, because they dedicate their lives to the nation,’ he added.