| Name(s) |
DHANRAJ PILLAI
|
| Date of
Birth |
July 16, 1968
– Pune, Maharashtra, India. |
|
Identity |
Indian Sportsman,
Field Hockey - Former captain of the Indian hockey team |
|
Other Events &
Developments |
- He spent his youth in the
Ordnance Factory staff colony where
his father was a groundsman. There
he used to play (albeit with broken
sticks and discarded hockey balls)
on the soft, muddy surface of the
factory ground with his brothers and
friends from the colony.
- And so he learnt the skills of
the game, imitating the
style of legendary players.
- He made his debut
in international hockey in
1989 in the Allwyn Asia Cup
in New Delhi.
- Over a period of 15 years of his
international hockey career, He is
said to have played 339
international matches and
scored 170 goals.
- 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.
|
| Awards
and Accolades |
- 1999-2000: Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Award, India’s
highest sporting honour.
- 2000: PADMA SHRI
- Player of the tournament
award in the 2002 Champions
Trophy held at Colgne, Germany.
|
|