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| Dhanraj Pillay | |||||||||||||||||||
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Dhanraj Pillay, long-haired, wild-eyed, not very tall, is the world`s most identifiable hockey player as he is the highest Indian goal scorer. It is a little unmanageable to elude him. Dhanraj is regarded as a creator of opportunities rather than a goal scorer. He is a man who used to attract the defenders to his side and free the rest of the forwards. It has been seen that there are always at least two defense players in the field marking him. But he runs 100 m in a very adequate record time of 11.6 seconds before defenders can even think of a move.
In the year 1989, Dhanraj Pillay made his debut in international hockey. He was representing his native country on the Allwyn Asia Cup held in New Delhi. In the international arena he has played 400 matches. Dhanraj Pillay`s career traversed from December 1989 to August 2004. As the Indian Hockey Federation keeps no official statistics for the goals scored so official account of the goals he made can not be given. But the estimated goals were between 130 to 170. He is regarded as the only player to have played in four Olympics (1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004), four World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002), four Champions Trophies (1995, 1996, 2002, and 2003), and four Asian Games (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002). Under his captaincy India won the Asian Games (1998) and Asia Cup (2003). He has been hobnored as the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games and was the only Indian player during the 1994 World Cup held at Sydney to figure in the World Eleven side. Other tournaments he played are: 
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.
v 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. Foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana (London) from 1992 to 1993, FC Lyon (France) 1993, Selangor (Kuala Lumpur), Abhahani Limited (Dhaka) from 1997 to 1999, Stuttgart Kickers (Stuttgart) from May -June Oct 2000, Bank Simpanan Nasional (Kuala Lumpur) from Nov 2000 to Feb 2001, Arthur Andersen (Kuala Lumpur) Mar 2002 to June 2002, Singapore (Singapore) Nov 2002, Ernst and Young (Kuala Lumpur) from Sep to oct 2004 and Telekom Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) from Jul-sep 2005, he has played for. In the Bangkok Asian Games he was also the highest goal scorer. In the World Eleven side, he was the only Indian player to calculate during the 1994 World Cup held at Sydney. Toward the end of his career for two seasons, Dhanraj played for the Maratha Warriors in the Premier Hockey League. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award considered as the India`s highest sporting honour was conferred upon Dhanraj Pillay for the year of 1999-2000. In the year 2000, a civilian award, the Padma Shri was awarded to him. He was conferred another two awards, that are Arjuna Puraskar (1995), K. K. Birla, Foundation Puraskar (1998-99). Dhanraj is contemplated as one of the most talented forwards of his era. He was attributed with a small frame and sleek locks, he could make for havoc in rival defences. Dhanraj Pillay was the succeeding captain of the triumphant Asian Games 2002 hockey team. In the 2002 Champions trophy, he was conferred the player of the tournament award held at Cologne, Germany. Presently Pillay is involved in trying to start a hockey academy at Bombay. For the first time in 32 years, he led India to an Asian Games gold medal, scoring 10 goals. An biography on dhanraj Pillay titled "Forgive me Amma(Mother)" has been released. | |||||||||||||||||||
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From his childhood, Dhanraj used to play on the soft, muddy surface of the OFK ground with his brothers and friends of the colony. With broken sticks and thrown away hockey balls, he learnt his skills copying the style of fabled forward and idol, Mohammed Shahid. His mother, despite leading a hand-to-mouth existence always bucked up all her five sons to play hockey. Dhanraj gives all the credit for his greatness to her. In the mid-eighties, Dhanraj moved to Mumbai to join his elder brother Ramesh. Ramesh was playing for RCF in the Mumbai league at that time. Ramesh had already played in international matches for India. Thus Dhanraj was benefited with his guidence. Dhanraj developed as a strong, rapid striker.