Bio Graphy of Dhanraj Pillay
Bio Graphy of Dhanraj Pillay
Bio Graphy of Dhanraj Pillay
Weight 64 kg / 141 lb
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Personal life
Dhanraj was born as the fourth son of Nagalingam Pillay and Andanamma on
Early life
Pillay spent his youth in the Ordinance Factory staff colony in ,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
Debut
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International Career
Dhanraj Pillay, whose career spanned from Dec 1989-Aug 2004 played 339
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
Club Hockey
He has also played for foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana (London), FC
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.
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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. He was
awarded the player of the tournament award in the 2002 Champions trophy held
at Cologne Germany.
raise funds for his academy he is heading a drive to collect empty plastic printer
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
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improper reception and non -payment of match fees. He protested against the
low team stipend on overseas tours before the 1998 series against Pakistan. On
receipt of the Khel Ratna Pillai commented, "The award will help erase some
bitter memories."
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.
DOMESTIC CIRCUIT
Teams Indian Airlines
Mahindra & Mahindra
Mumbai
City
Centre-Forward
Position
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Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (1999)
Arjuna Puraskar (1995).
TOURNAMENTS
1985 – Manipur
Junior Nationals
Muruguppa Gold Cup Jul 2002 (1st) - Man of the Final, Forward of
Tourney
Jul 1999 (1st) - Man of The Final
July 1998 (2nd)
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INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT
Matches 400 (post 2003 Asia Cup)
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1995 - Berlin (5th), 2 GOALS
Asian Tour Mar 2001 - Dhaka - 9-Nation Prime Minister's Gold Cup
(1st), 3 GOALS
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European Tour Aug 2004 - Leverkusen - 3-Test Series vs. Ireland (Won
2-1), 1 GOAL
Jul 2004 - Dusseldorf - 4-Nation Tournament (2nd)
Jun 2003 - Hamburg - 4-Nation Hamburg Masters (1st),
CAPTAIN
Jun 2003 - Duisburg (GER) - 1-off Test with Germany, 2-
2 Tie, CAPTAIN
Aug 2002 - Amstelveen - Rabobank 4-Nation
Tournament (LAST), 1 GOAL
Jan 2000 - Barcelona - 4-Nation Tournament (3rd)
Jan 2000 - Barcelona - 1-off Test with Canada (Won 3-2)
Jan 2000 - Barcelona - 3-Test Series vs. Belgium (Won
2-0), 1 GOAL
1997 - Hamburg - 4-Nation Tournament
1995 - Germany - 4-Nation Tournament
1993 - Vienna - Alps Cup
1993 - Poznan - Inter-Continental Tournament
1990 - Germany - BMW Tournament, 2 GOALS
Test Series at Home Jan 1998 - 4-Test Series vs. Germany - Lost 0-3,
CAPTAIN
1997 - vs. Germany
1996 - vs. England, Germany, Australia
1995 - vs. Holland, Spain
1994 - vs. Holland, Australia, South Africa
1993 - vs. South Africa
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FOREIGN CLUBS
Indian Gymkhana London 1992 - 1993
PUNE, Dec 28: Sheer determination and hard work. The success that
followed has given the Indian hockey captain, Dhanraj Pillay's sporting career a
fresh lease of life.
After the gold at the Asian Games in Bangkok, he came back to his
hometown, to a thumping welcome from relatives, close friends and fans, all the
way from the airport to his residence in Khadki.If only the victorious team had
landed at Lohegaon rather than Sahar. The kind of welcome Dhanraj got at the
Lohegaon terminal was in stark contrast to the drab reception at Mumbai. A
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sizeable crowd was patiently waiting for him. Fans filled up the lobby. A larger
crowd stood outside braving the drop in temperature.
He is relaxed and basking in the attention. His next goal -- making it to the
Sydney Olympics in Y2k. "The 50-odd days work-out in Bangalore and the
determination has been fruitful. It has put vigour into me,'' says Dhanraj who has
been in and out of the team twice before he made it to the Asian Games.
``Yes. There has been a lot of criticism. But at Bangkok, I gave my best,''
adds Dhanraj referring to being adjudged the player of the tournament. ``I had
told my parents long before leaving for Bangkok, that this being my last Asian
Games appearance, if we don't win the gold medal I will retire. But the success
changed my decision. I have no complaints against anybody after the poor
showing at the World Cup. Keeping in mind that this will be my last Asiad, I went
all out and it has paid off well,'' said the man who scored eleven goals in the
championship.
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Dhanraj describes the win as a team effort when he says, ``We worked
hard and we played well as a team after many years which paid dividends.''He
has no immediate plans of switching jobs, but is confident that his employer
(Mahindras) will consider shaping a hockey team.
Leaving the Mahindras for other offers is the last thing on his mind. ``I have
offers from the Tatas, Calcutta Customs, Indian Airlines. But for the past five
years my employers have taken good care of me in my hard days, which I cannot
forget. I'm sure they will strongly consider having a hockey team and more so
with the presence of the Indian captain, I'm optimistic that they will do something
for the game''.
This victory has resurrected the hockey team from the doldrums and
chances of finance flowing in from corporates and multi-nationals are bright.
``Now it is left up to the concerned authorities to go about preparing for the
Sydney Olympics''.
Hike in monetary incentives, cash prizes for the team events going up from
Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and a lot more continue to pour in a positive sign that
hockey is the national game.
Dhanraj is confident that he will play the Pakistan series. Later in February
he plans to play for Italy or Bangladesh, a two-month stint, then rejoin the Indian
team for the Olympics.
Although age might be catching up with him (he is nearly 30), his wants to
be in Sydney. He is confident he will be around for another two years.
The Khadki lad has come a long way, from galli hockey to astro turf. He
recollects the days when he had to borrow a hockey stick to play. "I have had
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many coaches from M.A. Anthony in Pune to Joaquium Carvalho in Mumbai. But
my father is my idol,'' says the champ.
He has been around the hockey scene for the last ten years. Yet Dhanraj
is to receive whatever little that the State Government does for any sportsman.
``I have not received anything from the Government, and the sad part is
that my application file for the flat (10% quota scheme) is lying in the government
office in Mumbai for the last two years, gathering dust.'' he says.
The application for a flat within the scheme was forwarded in the year 1996
but since then he is yet to get any intimation from the concerned officials that
they are in receipt of his application, leave alone allotment of a flat.
Dhanraj who first played for the country in the Asia Cup in 1989 is hopeful
that the gold medal will do the trick and he will soon get a roof over his head.
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