CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -He was awarded the Padma Shri, a civilian award in 2001. He was the captain of the 1998 Asian Games and 2003 Asia Cup winning hockey team. He was awarded the player of the tournament award in the 2002 Champions trophy held at Cologne, Germany. In 2017, East Bengal Club conferred Pillay with Bharat Gaurav award.

Detailed explanation-2: -Dhanraj Pillay was the first hockey player to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honour in the country, in 2000. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2001 by the Government of India. Pillay captained team India hockey at the Asian Games in 1998 and 2003 (the year India won).

Detailed explanation-3: -Dhanraj played in the Junior National Hockey Tournament held in Manipur at the age of 17 years and further played the Sanjay Gandhi Tournament (1987) held in Delhi.

Detailed explanation-4: -Pillay, born into a Tamil family, made his national team debut in 1989 and represented India in four Olympic Games, World Cups, and Champion Trophies during his 15-year career. He made 339 appearances for the national team and is unofficially credited with 170 goals.

Detailed explanation-5: -Dhyan Chand, (born August 29, 1905, Allahabad, India-died December 3, 1979, Delhi), Indian field hockey player who was considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.