Suman Chakravorty: Indian hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay is celebrating his 51st birthday today. The maestro who has single-handedly won so many matches for India, will be remembered for his magic with the stick. Here goes some remarkable facts about the hockey genius:
Dhanraj Pillay became the only player to set a trend of number four, with four Olympics, four World Cups, four Champion Trophies and four Asian Games
In 1998 at Bangkok Asian Games, Pillay was the highest goal scorer of the tournament.
Dhanraj Pillay made his international hockey debut in 1989 in Allwyn Asia CupDhanraj Pillay played over 330 international matches for India.
The Indian Hockey Federation didn’t keep an official record of his goals, but according to what he remembers, he scored around 170 goals in his career.
In the 1994 World Cup at Sydney, Dhanraj Pillay was the only Indian player who was included in the World Eleven side.
Dhanraj Pillay was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 1999-2000.
Under Pillay’s captaincy, India won 1998 Asian Games and 2003 Asia CupPillay became the player of the tournament in the 2002 Champions Trophy which was held in Germany.
Currently, Dhanraj Pillay is the manager of Indian Hockey team and is also a member of ad hoc committee of Indian Hockey Federation.
Dhanraj Pillay was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, in the year 2000.