Dhanraj Pillay has been one of the best all clip Hockey participants of India and besides one of the most popular 1s the game has of all time produced in the state. An highly good forward with crisp assaultive attitude. Dhanraj came from a really modest background and by dint of his sheer endowment and magnetic accomplishments rose to go one of the most outstanding Hockey participants of the state.
Early Life
He was born on the 16th of July 1968 at Khadki. a little town near Pune. Maharashtra. His male parent used to function at the Ordinance Factory and small Dhanraj began playing Hockey along with his friends with the broken Hockey sticks and ragged balls.
Dhanraj received his instruction at Sugra Vilasi Sabha School. Khadki. He used to adore the manner of the aggressive dribbler Mohammed Shahid. and seek to copy him.
Encouraged a batch by his female parent. Dhanraj loved the game a batch and tried his hardest to stand out in the game although he didn’t belong to a financially sound household.
Get downing of Hockey calling
The senior brother of Dhanraj. Ramesh used to play for a Club in Mumbai and introduced him to professional Hockey for the first clip.
Dhanraj showed his applaudable capablenesss in the first lucifer itself. and was spotted by the athletics veterans and Coaches at Mumbai in the first glimpse. At the age of 17 old ages. Dhanraj played in the Junior National Hockey Tournament held at Manipur.
He got a opportunity to play at Sanjay Gandhi Tournament 1987 held at Delhi. and farther played his first National Hockey Tournament in 1988 in the same metropolis. Owing to his ace fast velocity ( he is said to cover 100m of distance in merely 11. 6 seconds ) .
he became celebrated as “Toofan” ( Tornado ) in the Hockey fraternity. Joquim Carvalho. the celebrated Hockey participant and Coach noticed the endowment of Dhanraj and invited him to fall in Mahindra & A ; Mahindra squad at Mumbai. At Mahindra & A ; Mahindra.
Dhanraj got to play with the internationally celebrated participants like Marcellus Gomes and Mark Patterson and honed his accomplishments under the able counsel of Carvalho.
International Hockey
Dhanraj Pillay made his introduction in the International Hockey with Allwyn Asia Cup Hockey tournament held at New Dehi in the twelvemonth 1989. He played his first International lucifer against the squad of China on the 20th of December 1989. After this.
he represented the Indian squad in a figure of International tourneies such as Beijing Asian Games 1990. Barcelona Olympic Games 1992. World Cup Hockey tourney 1994 and so on boulder clay the twelvemonth 2004.
Cardinal Accomplishments
He has been the lone Hockey participant who has participated in 4 Olympic Games ( held in the old ages 1992.
1996. 2000 and 2004 ) . 4 World Cup Tournaments ( held in 1990. 1994.
1998 and 2002. 4 Champions Trophy Tournaments ( held in 1995. 1996. 2002 and 2003 ) .
and 4 Asiatic Games ( held in 1990. 1994. 1998 and 2002 ) . He besides served as the Captain of the Indian Hockey squad for some clip.
and led the squad to triumph in Asiatic Games 1998 and Asia Cup Hockey 2003. Dhanraj was the highest end scorer in the Hockey event at Bangkok Asian Games 1998. and has been the lone Indian participant to look in the World Eleven squad at Sydney World Cup Tournament 1994.
Club Hockey
Apart from playing for Indian National Hockey squad in assorted International tourneies.
Dhanraj Pillay has represented a figure of abroad Hockey nines. including Indian Gymkhana of London. HC Lyon of France. BSN HC & A ; Telekom Malyasia HC of Malaysia.
Abhahani Limited of Dhaka and HTC Stuttgart Kickers of Germany.
Awards
As an award to his extra-ordinary excellence and devotedness towards the game of Hockey and his part towards state through his attempts made in the game the highest featuring award of India. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was bestowed upon Dhanraj Pillay by the Government of India for the twelvemonth 1999-2000 and was honored by the Padma Shri award in 2000. At the Champions Trophy tourney 2002 held at Cologne.
Germany. he was named the Player of the Tournament.
Accomplishments:
- Highest end scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games
- Member of World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup
- Padma Shri in 2000Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award ( 1999 )
A life titled “Forgive Me Amma ( Mother ) ” has been released. Journalist Sundeep Misra.
who had tracked his calling crossing about three decennaries. has written the book. [ 8 ]
