Introduction
Dhanraj Pillay who was born 16th day of July month in the year 1968 in Pune, is an Indian field hockey player and past captain of the Indian hockey team that played at various matches. He is presently the manager of the Indian hockey team. He is also an associate of the ad hoc board of Indian Hockey Federation which was established after the deferment of Kanwar Pal Singh Gill. The impulsive Dhanraj Pillay is effortlessly one of the best forward players of hockey game in the world. Dhanraj Pillay is a lively and fascinating player. His magic is eternal and he can stab through any defense, any time in the game.
His dripping is so fast that he can go through players who are even 10 years younger to him. Most significant of all, Dhanraj Pillay still has that desire, hunger and adoration for the game. Dhanraj Pillay has remained one of the greatest all time Hockey players of India and similarly one of the most well-known ones the game has ever created in the nation. An enormously good forward with strident attacking approach, Dhanraj Pillay came from a modest background and by indent of his pure talent and fascinating skills rose to turn into one of the most noticeable Hockey players of the country. Such is the charm of this man from Pune that his fan following goes beyond borders of India.
Early Life
Dhanraj Pillay did his education from the Sugra Vilasi Sabha shortly referred to as SVS School in Khadki and he was more attracted in playing rather than reading. Though he was not a bright student in his school, his teachers adored him as he was very obedient to them and excelled in the arena of sports. Dhanraj Pillay's father named Nagalingam Pillay was a employee in the Khadki ammo factory and he was sustaining a big family, with some irregular difficulties.
Dhanraj Pillay, one of the ultimate Hockey players in India was born on 16th day of July month in the year 1968 in Khadki. He was the youngest member of the Pillay family. It is said that as the family was going through financial crisis, he was named Dhanraj which means Wealthy. Dhanraj Pillay's father's name was Nagalingam Pillay and his mother's name was Andalamma Pillay. Dhanraj Pillay was a skinny, not that much strongly built but an athlete boy in his juvenile and he was so-called as Dhan by his friends. Athleticism was believed to be God's gift to him. He was a nomral school goer in his childhood and was measured as a mediocre schoolboy in his school.
Youngest Member of the Pillay Family
The youngest member of the Pillay family, Dhanraj Pillay happened to play hockey from his initial childhood days on the Khadki ammo factory grounds, along with various other children. He used to play Hockey with a limited wrecked sticks stuck up with gum and gunny-sack strings locally known as sutali. The ground was truly a meeting place for the children of Khadki aged above 10 years and lot of them played Hockey game on the ground. Dhanraj Pillay and his brothers were amongst the serious players of the hockey game, which was actually the life of Khadki.
Dhanraj Pillay's Delightful Skill in the Hockey
Dhanraj Pillay's delightful skill in the Hockey game was first recognized in a hockey match in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Dhanraj Pillay's elder brother Ramesh who was also a renowned Hockey player was part of a Hockey team of a club in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. After the club was falling short of single member in the team and Ramesh sent a critical letter to Dhanraj to line in for the club as soon as possible.
Dhanraj Pillay Sustained Playing Hockey
Dhanraj Pillai played in the Hockey match initially as a substitute player and he effortlessly got noted by the coaches, as he was playing with his usual enthusiasm and abundant ability of playing moral Hockey. After that Dhanraj Pillay sustained playing Hockey and he got his main big break, when Joaquim Carvalho demanded him to join Mahindra & Mahindra.
The Junior National Hockey Tournament
At the tender age of 17 years, Dhanraj Pillay played in the Junior National Hockey Tournament which was held at Manipur. He got an opportunity to play at Sanjay Gandhi Tournament int the year 1987 that was held at Delhi, and further played his very first National Hockey Tournament in in the year 1988 in the same city. Due to his marvelous high speed, he became well-known as Toofan meaning Tornado, in the Hockey community.
Trainer Observed the Talent of Dhanraj Pillay
Joquim Carvalho, the renowned Hockey player and Trainer observed the talent of Dhanraj Pillay and asked him to join Mahindra & Mahindra club team at Mumbai. At Mahindra & Mahindra, Dhanraj Pillaygot chances to play along with the globally well-known players like Marcellus Gomes and Mark Patterson and refined his skills under the gifted guidance of Carvalho.
Dhanraj Pillay Made His Entrance in the International Hockey
Dhanraj Pillay made his entrance in the International Hockey matches with Allwyn Asia Cup Hockey tournament that was held at New Dehi, India in the year of 1989. He played his very first International match opposite to the team of China on the 20th day of the December month in the year 1989. After this, he exemplified the Indian team in a lot of International tournaments such as Beijing Asian Games in the year 1990, Barcelona Olympic Games in the year 1992, World Cup Hockey tournament in the year 1994 and so on till the year of 2004.
Dhanraj Pillay Has Remained the One and Only Hockey Player
Dhanraj Pillay has remained the one and only Hockey player who has partaken in 4 Olympic Games that were held in the years of 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004, 4 World Cup Tournaments that were held in the years 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002, 4 Champions Trophy Tournaments that were held in the years 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2003, and 4 Asian Games that were held in the years 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Dhanraj Pillay was the Maximum Goal Scorer in the Hockey
He has also led the team as the Captain of the Indian Hockey team for a short period of time, and led the team to success in the Asian Games in the year 1998 and Asia Cup Hockey in the year 2003. Dhanraj Pillay was the maximum goal scorer in the Hockey game event at Bangkok Asian Games in the year 1998, and he has been the one and only Indian player to perform in the World Eleven team at the Sydney World Cup Tournament in the year 1994.
Champions Trophy Tournament in the Year 2002
As an integrity to his astonishing brilliance and devotion for the game of Hockey and his involvement in nation through his determinations made in the game, the top sporting honor of India i.e the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was presented upon Dhanraj Pillay by the Government of India in the year 2000, and was also presented with the Padma Shri award in the year 2000. At the Champions Trophy tournament in the year 2002 held at Cologne, Germany, Dhanraj Pillay was titled the Player of the Tournament.
