Dhanraj Pillay

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Dhanraj Pillay is a field hockey player and former captain of the Indian hockey team.

Contents 1 Personal life 2 Early life 3 Debut 4 International Career 5 Club Hockey 6 Awards 7 Controversies

[edit] Personal life

Dhanraj was born as the fourth son of Nagalingam Pillay and Andanamma on July 16, 1968 at Kirkee in Maharashtra. A bachelor, he lives in Powai [1]

[edit] Early life

Pillay spent his youth in the Ordinance Factory staff colony in Kirkee, where his father was a groundsman. Playing on the soft, muddy surface of the OFK ground with his brothers and friends from the colony, he learnt his skills with broken sticks and discarded hockey balls, imitating the style of legendary forward and idol, Mohammed Shahid. His mother, whom he gives all the credit for his greatness, encouraged all her five sons to play hockey despite leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Dhanraj moved to Mumbai in the mid-eighties to join his elder brother Ramesh, who was playing for RCF in the Mumbai league. Ramesh had already played for India in international matches, and his guidance helped Dhanraj develop as a potent, speedy striker. He then moved over to Mahindra & Mahindra where he was tutored by India defender, Joaquim Carvalho. [2]

[edit] Debut

Dhanraj Pillay's debut in international hockey was in 1989 when he represented the nation on the Allwyn Asia Cup in New Delhi. [3]

[edit] International Career

Dhanraj Pillay, whose career spaned from Dec 1989-Aug 2004 played 339 international matches. The Indian Hockey Federation keeps no official statistics for the goals scored. There is no credible information on the number of International goals scored by Dhanraj. He himself reckons it is more than 170, a leading hockey statistician insists it is closer to 120.[4]

He is the only player to have played in four Olympics (1992, 96, 00, 04), four World Cups (1990, 94, 98, 02), four Champions Trophies (1995, 96, 02, 03) and four Asian Games (1990, 94, 98, 02). India won the Asian Games (1998) and Asia Cup (2003) under his captaincy . He was also the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games and was the only Indian player to figure in the World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup at Sydney. [5]

[edit] Club Hockey

He has also played for foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana (London), FC Lyon (France), Selangor (Kuala Lumpur), Abhahani Limited (Dhaka) and Stuttgart Kickers (Stuttgart).He was also the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games and was the only Indian player to figure in the World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup at Sydney. Toward the end of his career Dhanraj played in the Premier Hockey League for the Maratha Warriors for 2 seasons.

[edit] Awards

He is the recipient of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award for the year 1999-2000. He was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award in 2000. Dhanraj is one of the most gifted forwards of his era with a small frame and flowing locks, he could wreak havoc in rival defences. He was the winning captain of the victorious Asian Games 2002 hockey team. [6] He was awarded the player of the tournament award in the [2002 Champions trophy] held at Cologne Germany.

Pillay is currently involved in trying to start a hockey academy at Bombay . To raise funds for his academy he is heading a drive to collect empty plastic printer cartridges in Bombay and sell them to a European recycling firm.[7]

[edit] Controversies

Dhanraj is often describes as mercurial and has had his share of controversies. Time and again he has vented this ire against the Hockey Management. He was not selected for the Indian team after the triumph at the Busan asiad. The official reason given was that Dhanraj and 6 other senior players were rested. But it was largely seen as a retaliation for his outburst against the management for improper reception and non -payment of match fees. He protested against the low team stipend on overseas tours before the 1998 series against Pakistan.[8] On receipt of the Khel Ratna Pillai commented, "The award will help erase some bitter memories."[9]

His plans to start a hockey academy at Mumbai have not taken off fully as Bombay Hockey Association has refused to allow its astroturf facility to be used for training[10]

• [11]
• World Hockey