Dhanraj Pillay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dhanraj Pillay

Pillay in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Dhanraj Pillay
Born	(1968-07-16) 16 July 1968 (age 56) Khadki, Pune, Maharastra, India
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Forward
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1993	Indian Gymkhana	78	(200)
1993	HC Lyon
1994–1997	Selangor HA	7	(8)
1997–1999	Abahani Ltd.
2000	HTC Stuttgart Kickers
2000–2001	Bank Simpanan Nasional HC
2002	Arthur Andersen HC
2002	Singapore Hockey Federation
2006–2008	Maratha Warriors
2012	Karnataka Lions	6	(1)
National team
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–2004	India	400	(170)
Medal record Representing  India Men's field hockey Champions Challenge Gold 2001 Kuala Lumpur Team Asia Cup Gold 2003 Kuala Lumpur Team Silver 1989 Delhi Team Silver 1994 Hiroshima Team Bronze 1999 Kuala Lumpur Team Asian Games Gold 1998 Bangkok Team Silver 1990 Beijing Team Silver 1994 Hiroshima Team Silver 2002 Busan Team

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.

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 400 appearances for the national team and is recorded, unofficially, to have scored 170 goals. He also played for clubs in countries such as Malaysia, France, England and Germany. Recognizing his achievements, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2000.

International career

Dhanraj Pillay, whose career spanned from December 1989 to August 2004, played 400 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 in Sydney.

Club Hockey

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. He is currently the coach of the same team.

Awards

He 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. 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.

Biography

Pillay's biography, Forgive Me Amma, written by journalist Sundeep Misra, who tracked his career for over two decades, released in 2007.