20 Facts About Dhanraj Pillay

Dhanraj Pillay was born on 16 July 1968 and is a retired Indian field hockey player and former captain of the India national team.

Dhanraj Pillay looks after the Air India Sports Promotion Board as a Joint Secretary based in Mumbai.

Dhanraj Pillay is widely regarded as one of the best Indian players of hockey.

Dhanraj 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.

Dhanraj Pillay made 400 appearances for the national team and is recorded, unofficially, to have scored 170 goals.

Dhanraj Pillay played for clubs in countries such as Malaysia, France, England and Germany.

Dhanraj Pillay scored around 171 goals in his career, according to both him and leading statisticians in the world.

Dhanraj Pillay is the only player to have played in four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champions Trophies, and four Asian Games.

Dhanraj Pillay was 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.

Towards the end of his career, Dhanraj Pillay 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.

Dhanraj Pillay is currently the coach of the same team.

Dhanraj Pillay was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award in 2001.

Dhanraj Pillay was the captain of the 1998 Asian Games and 2003 Asia Cup winning hockey team.

Dhanraj Pillay was awarded the player of the tournament award in the 2002 Champions trophy held at Cologne, Germany.

Dhanraj Pillay is often described as mercurial and has had his share of controversies.

Dhanraj Pillay was not selected for the Indian team after the triumph at the Bangkok Asiad.

Dhanraj Pillay protested against the low team stipend on overseas tours before the 1998 series against Pakistan.

On receipt of the Khel Ratna, Dhanraj Pillay commented, "The award will help erase some bitter memories".

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