View source for Dhanraj Pillay

{{short description|Indian field hockey player}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name     = Dhanraj Pillay
| fullname       = Dhanraj Pillay
| image          = Dhanraj Pillay.jpg
| caption        = Pillay in 2010
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|07|16}}
| birth_place    = [[Khadki]], [[Pune district|Pune]], [[Maharastra]], India
| height         = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web |title= Dhanraj Pillay |url= http://dimdima.com/sports/show_sports.asp?q_aid=36&q_title=Dhanraj%20Pillay |publisher= Dimdima |access-date= 13 January 2013}}</ref>
| weight         = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) -->
| website        = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} -->
| position       = [[Field hockey#Positions|Forward]]
| years1         = 1992–1993     | clubs1  = Indian Gymkhana | caps1 = 78 | goals1 = 200
| years2         = 1993            | clubs2  = HC Lyon
| years3         = 1994–1997     | clubs3  = Selangor HA     | caps3 = 7  | goals3 = 8
| years4         = 1997–1999     | clubs4  = [[Abahani Limited (Dhaka)|Abahani Ltd.]]
| years5         = 2000            | clubs5  = HTC Stuttgart Kickers
| years6         = 2000–2001     | clubs6  = Bank Simpanan Nasional HC
| years7         = 2002            | clubs7  = [[Ernst & Young HC|Arthur Andersen HC]]
| years8         = 2002            | clubs8  = Singapore Hockey Federation
| years9         = 2006–2008         | clubs9  = [[Maratha Warriors]]
| years10        = 2012| clubs10 = [[Karnataka Lions]]  | caps10 = 6 |goals10 = 1
| years11        = 2004            | clubs11 = [[Ernst & Young HC]]
| years1000       = 2005            | clubs12 = Telekom Malaysia HC
| nationalyears1 = 1989–2004
| nationalteam1 = [[India men's national field hockey team|India]]
| nationalcaps1 = 339
| nationalgoals1 = 170
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | {{IND}} }}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[field hockey]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Champions Challenge (field hockey)|Champions Challenge]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2001 Men's Champions Challenge (field hockey)|2001 Kuala Lumpur]] | Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Men's Hockey Asia Cup|Asia Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|2003 Kuala Lumpur]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1989 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|1989 Delhi]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[1994 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|1994 Hiroshima]]|Team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1999 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|1999 Kuala Lumpur]]|Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Field hockey at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[Field hockey at the 1998 Asian Games|1998 Bangkok]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Field hockey at the 1990 Asian Games|1990 Beijing]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Field hockey at the 1994 Asian Games|1994 Hiroshima]]|Team}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Field hockey at the 2002 Asian Games|2002 Busan]]|Team}}
}}

'''Dhanraj Pillay''' (born 16 July 1968) is a retired Indian [[field hockey]] player and former captain of the [[India men's national field hockey team|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.<ref>{{cite web|title='This will be my last Olympics. I have to go all out and prove that I am the best'|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2000/jul/27dhan.htm|work=rediff.com|access-date=12 February 2017|date=27 July 2000}}</ref>

Pillay born to a [[Tamil people|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]], [[Hockey World Cup|World Cups]] and [[Hockey Champions Trophy|Champion Trophies]] each. He made 339 appearances for the national team and is recorded, unofficially, to have scored 170 goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado On The Turf|url=https://www.tata.com/newsroom/careers/people/dhanraj-pillay-air-india-tornado-on-the-turf#:~:text=I%20played%20339%20matches%20and,for%20HC%20Lyon%20in%20France.%E2%80%9D|website=Tata.com|access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Dhanraj Pillay's 48th birthday: Some interesting facts that you should know|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/dhanraj-pillay-facts-326617-2016-07-15|magazine=India Today|access-date=12 February 2017|date=15 July 2016|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229194428/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/dhanraj-pillay-facts-326617-2016-07-15|url-status=live}}</ref> He also played for clubs in countries such as [[Malaysia]], [[France]], [[England]] and [[Germany]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Marar|first1=Nandakumar|title=Power and magic|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2002/10/12/stories/2002101200160100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030517160826/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/yw/2002/10/12/stories/2002101200160100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 May 2003|access-date=12 February 2017|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=12 October 2002}}</ref> 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 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 171 goals in his career, according to both him and leading statisticians in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dhanraj Pillai |url=http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/khiladi/2000/dhanraj.htm |website=bharatiyahockey.org |access-date=5 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202110425/http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/khiladi/2000/dhanraj.htm |archive-date=2 February 2007 }}</ref> 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 (Dhaka)|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2007/apr/10hock.htm|title=Dhanraj gives Indian Airlines Beighton Cup}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> He was the captain of the [[1998 Asian Games]] and [[2003 Men's Hockey Asia Cup|2003 Asia Cup]] winning hockey team. He was awarded the player of the tournament award in the [[2002 Men's Champions Trophy (field hockey)|2002 Champions trophy]] held at [[Cologne]], Germany. In 2017, [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal Club]] conferred Pillay with [[East Bengal Club Season Awards|Bharat Gaurav]] award.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/east-bengal-honours-dhanraj-pillay-with-bharat-gaurav/article19411199.ece |title=East Bengal honours Dhanraj Pillay with Bharat Gaurav |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=16 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/dhanraj-pillay-conferred-with-bharat-gaurav-by-east-bengal-football-club-1501664139-1|title=Dhanraj Pillay conferred with Bharat Gaurav by East Bengal Football Club|work=Jagranjosh|date=2 August 2017 |access-date=19 December 2019|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219124033/https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/dhanraj-pillay-conferred-with-bharat-gaurav-by-east-bengal-football-club-1501664139-1}}</ref>

==Controversies==
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".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20000731/profile.html |title=Profile: Dhanraj Pillai: Dribbling Towards Gold |publisher=India-today.com |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124045627/http://india-today.com/itoday/20000731/profile.html |archive-date=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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. He said that the academy will begin to function on October 1 but there are no signs of it right now.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/22/stories/0722051f.htm |title=The Hindu: Pillay's project suffers setback |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=22 July 2001 |access-date=4 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805013119/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/22/stories/0722051f.htm |archive-date=5 August 2009 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

==Biography==
Pillay's biography, ''Forgive Me Amma'', written by journalist Sundeep Misra, who tracked his career for over two decades, released in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dhanraj Pillay eyes coaching role post-retirement|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/Dhanraj-Pillay-eyes-coaching-role-post-retirement/articleshow/2057986.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=10 February 2017|date=17 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ugra|first1=Sharda|title=A Stick in Time|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/books/story/20070611-sundeep-misra-book-review-life-and-time-of-dhanraj-pillay-biography-748317-2007-06-10|work=India Today|access-date=10 February 2017|date=11 June 2007}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/hockey-stars-to-run-academy-with-waste/articleshow/2122483427.cms for understanding from Indian point.
* {{sports links}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/khiladi/dhanraj.htm Dhanraj Pillay's career statistics]
*[http://dimdima.com/sports/show_sports.asp?q_aid=36&q_title=Dhanraj%20Pillay Bio] at dimdima.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051126140039/http://www.bharatiyahockey.org/khiladi/2000/dhanraj.htm Achievements Table]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees}}
{{Navboxes
|title=India squads
| bg = #0077FF
| fg = #FFFF40
|list1=
{{India FH Squad 1990 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1994 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1998 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 1998 World Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 2002 Champions Trophy}}
{{India FH Squad 2002 Asian Games}}
{{India FH Squad 2003 Asia Cup}}
{{India FH Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillay, Dhanraj}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male field hockey forwards]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1990 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:1994 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:1998 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:2002 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Khel Ratna Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Tamil sportspeople]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Pune]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:World Series Hockey players]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1990 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Asian Games]]
[[Category:1990 Men's Hockey World Cup players]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in field hockey]]