Dhanraj Pillay (born 16 July 1968) is a retired Indian field hockey player and former captain of the India national team. He also looks after the Air India Sports Promotion Board as a Joint Secretary based in Mumbai. For the last 5 years, Dhanraj is overseeing the SAG Hockey Academy in Gujarat funded by the Gujarat Government. He is widely regarded as one of the best Indian players of hockey.[2]
Pillay born to a Tamil family made his debut in 1989 with the national team and in a career spanning over 15 years, appeared for India in four Olympic Games, World Cups and Champion Trophies each. He made 339 appearances for the national team and is recorded, unofficially, to have scored 170 goals.[3] He also played for clubs in countries such as Malaysia, France, England and Germany.[4] Recognizing his achievements, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2000.
Dhanraj Pillay, whose career spanned from December 1989 to August 2004, played 339 international matches. The Indian Hockey Federation did not keep official statistics for the goals scored. There is no credible information on the number of international goals scored by Dhanraj. He scored around 170 goals in his career, according to both him and leading statisticians in the world. He is 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). 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.
Club HockeyEdit
He has also played for foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana (London), HC Lyon (France), BSN HC & Telekom Malaysia HC (Malaysia), Abahani Limited, HTC Stuttgart Kickers (Germany) and Khalsa Sports Club (Hong Kong). Towards the end of his career, Dhanraj played in the Premier Hockey League for the Maratha Warriors for two seasons.
Dhanraj Pillay turned up for the Karnataka Lions in the World Series Hockey being played in India. He scored two goals for his team, captained by ex-India captain Arjun Halappa. He also played for Indian Airlines in Beighton Cup.[5] He is currently the coach of the same team.
Dhanraj is often described 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 Bangkok 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. On receipt of the Khel Ratna, Pillay 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 Mumbai Hockey Association has refused to allow its astroturf facility to be used for training.[10]
BiographyEdit
Pillay's biography, Forgive Me Amma, written by journalist Sundeep Misra, who tracked his career for over two decades, released in 2007.[11][12]
ReferencesEdit
^"Dhanraj Pillay". Dimdima. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
^"'This will be my last Olympics. I have to go all out and prove that I am the best'". rediff.com. 27 July 2000. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
^"Dhanraj Pillay's 48th birthday: Some interesting facts that you should know". India Today. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
^Marar, Nandakumar (12 October 2002). . The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 May 2003. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhanraj Pillay.
Dhanraj Pillay's career statistics
Bio at dimdima.com
October 21, 2023
dhanraj, pillay, born, july, 1968, retired, indian, field, hockey, player, former, captain, india, national, team, also, looks, after, india, sports, promotion, board, joint, secretary, based, mumbai, last, years, dhanraj, overseeing, hockey, academy, gujarat,. Dhanraj Pillay born 16 July 1968 is a retired Indian field hockey player and former captain of the India national team He also looks after the Air India Sports Promotion Board as a Joint Secretary based in Mumbai For the last 5 years Dhanraj is overseeing the SAG Hockey Academy in Gujarat funded by the Gujarat Government He is widely regarded as one of the best Indian players of hockey 2 Dhanraj PillayPillay in 2010Personal informationFull nameDhanraj PillayBorn 1968 07 16 16 July 1968 age 55 Khadki Pune Maharastra IndiaHeight5 ft 8 in 1 73 m 1 Playing positionForwardSenior careerYearsTeam1992 1993Indian Gymkhana1993HC Lyon1994 1997Selangor HA1997 1999Abahani Ltd 2000HTC Stuttgart Kickers2000 2001Bank Simpanan Nasional HC2002Arthur Andersen HC2002Singapore Hockey Federation2006 2008Maratha Warriors2012Karnataka Lions2004Ernst amp Young HC2005Telekom Malaysia HCNational teamYearsTeamApps Gls 1989 2004India339 170 Medal record Representing IndiaMen s field hockeyChampions Challenge2001 Kuala Lumpur TeamAsia Cup2003 Kuala Lumpur Team1989 Delhi Team1994 Hiroshima Team1999 Kula Lumpur TeamAsian Games1998 Bangkok Team1990 Beijing Team1994 Hiroshima Team2002 Busan TeamPillay born to a Tamil family made his debut in 1989 with the national team and in a career spanning over 15 years appeared for India in four Olympic Games World Cups and Champion Trophies each He made 339 appearances for the national team and is recorded unofficially to have scored 170 goals 3 He also played for clubs in countries such as Malaysia France England and Germany 4 Recognizing his achievements he was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2000 Contents 1 International career 2 Club Hockey 3 Awards 4 Controversies 5 Biography 6 References 7 External linksInternational career EditDhanraj Pillay whose career spanned from December 1989 to August 2004 played 339 international matches The Indian Hockey Federation did not keep official statistics for the goals scored There is no credible information on the number of international goals scored by Dhanraj He scored around 170 goals in his career according to both him and leading statisticians in the world He is 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 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 Club Hockey EditHe has also played for foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana London HC Lyon France BSN HC amp Telekom Malaysia HC Malaysia Abahani Limited HTC Stuttgart Kickers Germany and Khalsa Sports Club Hong Kong Towards the end of his career Dhanraj played in the Premier Hockey League for the Maratha Warriors for two seasons Dhanraj Pillay turned up for the Karnataka Lions in the World Series Hockey being played in India He scored two goals for his team captained by ex India captain Arjun Halappa He also played for Indian Airlines in Beighton Cup 5 He is currently the coach of the same team Awards EditHe is the recipient of India s highest sporting honour the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award for the year 1999 2000 He was awarded the Padma Shri a civilian award in 2001 6 He was the captain of the 1998 Asian Games and 2003 Asia Cup winning hockey team He was awarded the player of the tournament award in the 2002 Champions trophy held at Cologne Germany In 2017 East Bengal Club conferred Pillay with Bharat Gaurav award 7 8 Controversies EditDhanraj is often described 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 Bangkok 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 On receipt of the Khel Ratna Pillay 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 Mumbai Hockey Association has refused to allow its astroturf facility to be used for training 10 Biography EditPillay s biography Forgive Me Amma written by journalist Sundeep Misra who tracked his career for over two decades released in 2007 11 12 References Edit Dhanraj Pillay Dimdima Retrieved 13 January 2013 This will be my last Olympics I have to go all out and prove that I am the best rediff com 27 July 2000 Retrieved 12 February 2017 Dhanraj Pillay s 48th birthday Some interesting facts that you should know India Today 15 July 2016 Retrieved 12 February 2017 Marar Nandakumar 12 October 2002 Power and magic The Hindu Archived from the original on 17 May 2003 Retrieved 12 February 2017 Dhanraj gives Indian Airlines Beighton Cup Padma Awards PDF Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India 2015 Archived from the original PDF on 15 October 2015 Retrieved 21 July 2015 East Bengal honours Dhanraj Pillay with Bharat Gaurav The Hindu 3 August 2017 Retrieved 16 September 2017 Dhanraj Pillay conferred with Bharat Gaurav by East Bengal Football Club Jagranjosh Archived from the original on 19 December 2019 Retrieved 19 December 2019 Profile Dhanraj Pillai Dribbling Towards Gold India today com Archived from the original on 24 November 2010 Retrieved 4 May 2011 The Hindu Pillay s project suffers setback Hinduonnet com 22 July 2001 Archived from the original on 5 August 2009 Retrieved 4 May 2011 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Dhanraj Pillay eyes coaching role post retirement The Times of India 17 May 2007 Retrieved 10 February 2017 Ugra Sharda 11 June 2007 A Stick in Time India Today Retrieved 10 February 2017 External links EditDhanraj Pillay at Olympedia nbsp nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhanraj Pillay Dhanraj Pillay s career statistics Bio at dimdima com Achievements Table Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dhanraj Pillay amp oldid 1157601891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
