Page 17 - NIS English 16-31 July,2025

Dhanraj Pillay | PERSONALITY
HOCKEY’S

TORNADO

A hockey ground in the Khadki neighbourhood close to
Pune where children gathered every day with gleaming
hockey sticks. Among them was a boy from a poor
family who didn’t even have the money to buy a new
stick… When he came out to play for the first time by
joining some broken sticks with a sack rope, no one
had any idea that later on he would establish himself
as the best striker along with the greatest captains of
the Indian hockey team. This is the story of Dhanraj
Pillay, who was called the ‘Toofaan’ (Tornado) of Indian
hockey due to his exceptional speed on the field…

Born: 16 July 1968

hanraj Pillay, a member of the Indian not un- derstand how to stop
hockey team, is regarded as a powerful Dhanraj. The spectators named
Dplayer who is passionate about the him Toofan out of joy. After this, in
sport. In the nineties, Dhanraj, the hero Gwalior in 1989, he left such an
of the Indian hockey team, became impres- sion with his game
known for his wrist work and speed. that he was directly included
By the time the players of the opposi- in the Indian team. In 1998,
tion team tried to understand his strategy, under his captaincy, the Indian
he would score a goal. hockey team won the Asian Games
Dhanraj Pillay was born on 16 July 1968. His gold medal after 32 years.
childhood was full of difficulties. Thinking that the In 2003, he also won the Asia Cup title for India.
son would remove the poverty of the house, the Dhanraj is the only player who represented India in 4
family members named him Dhanraj. He was the Olympics, 4 World Cups, 4 Asian Games and 4 Cham-
youngest of five brothers. Due to the family's dire pions Trophies. Dhanraj, who served Indian hockey
financial situation, Dhanraj was always given his for 15 years and finally retired in 2004, is among the
older brother Ramesh's broken and worn-out stick. top five highest goal scorers from India. Dhanraj,
Ramesh became well-known as a hockey player. He who scored a total of 170 goals in 339 international
brought Dhanraj to Mumbai as well. matches in his career, was awarded the Padma Shri
While practising with his brother, one day he in 2000.
also joined his team. The year was 1987; Delhi's On 28 October 2018, in the 49th episode of the Mann
hockey ground was about to witness a historic Ki Baat programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
match. Dhanraj entered the ground with his team. remembered Dhanraj Pillay. He said that whenever
But people were looking intently at Rajinder, who hockey is discussed in the world, the story of hockey
was the best player of that era. Suddenly, a tall and will remain incomplete without these great players of
thin boy, Dhanraj Pillay, caught everyone's atten- India. The whole world is familiar with hockey magi-
tion in the match. Dhanraj's speed was such that cian Major Dhyanchand. After that, hockey has come a
he snatched the ball from Rajinder's clutches and long way from Balwinder Singh Senior, Leslie Claudius,
scored a brilliant goal. The opponent team could Mohammad Shahid, Udham Singh to Dhanraj Pillay. n

July 16-31, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 15