India hockey legend Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar says his father will be smiling down from heaven on hearing the news that he could finally be conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
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India hockey legend Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar says his father will be smiling down from heaven on hearing the news that he could finally be conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel recently said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bestow the Bharat Ratna on Dhyan Chand posthumously given his exceptional service to the country.
The sports ministry had recommended the honour for Dhyan Chand back in 2013 too, but the UPA government in power then, had picked cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar over the hockey wizard.
"It's been quite a struggle for Babuji's (Dhyan Chand) followers, who have time and again called for him to be given the Bharat Ratna but have been turned down by the authorities.
"In his final days, Babuji was very ill and not in the best of moods. The Bharat Ratna will ensure he will be smiling down upon us from the heavens," Ashok Kumar, who scored the winning goal as India beat Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, told mid-day yesterday. Dhyan Chand (1905-1979) led India to three Olympic gold medals (Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and Berlin 1936) and was considered one of the best exponents of field hockey.
Former India captain Ashok said the prestigious award will be a positive sign for the national game too.
"Indian hockey is not at its best internationally by any stretch of imagination. Domestically too, the game is suffering.
"In such a situation, if the Bharat Ratna is awarded to a hockey player, it will help raise the profile of the game," added Ashok.
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