The Hindu : A dream come true: Pillay

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 11, 2003

Sport

Sport - Hockey

A dream come true: Pillay

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI July 10. Indian hockey has attracted attention from Sahara India, already supporting the national cricket team in a megabucks-for-mileage deal.

Dhanraj Pillay is hopeful of a positive fallout of the Lucknow company's long-term association with hockey, starting with an eight-year sponsorship deal announced on Wednesday.

The Indian men's team skipper said: "Having already seen Indian cricketers wearing the sponsor colours on television, sporting words like `Amby Valley' during the recent World Cup Cricket, I always dreamt of a day when hockey players would represent India wearing similar colours. It is going to happen now."

He was speaking at a felicitation function organised by Viraat Event Managers at Khar Gymkhana on Wednesday night for the skipper and two Mumbai juniors on the Indian men's squad — Viren Rasquinha and Vikram Pillay. The hockey trio were presented with cheques and gifts by the organisers at the Dena Bank-sponsored event.

Former world billiards champion Geet Sethi, filmstar Jackie Shroff, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Nirupam and Times of India Sports Editor Ayaz Memon talked about their individual impressions of Dhanraj Pillay the player and the man.

"This is an honour not just for me, but for the Indian team. We are confident of performing to our best in the Champions Trophy next month. It will be our way of giving back to hockey fans and followers," said the captain.

The hockey star of the night received cheques totalling Rs 50,000 and a watch presented by Foce Watches, while his junior mates received Rs 25,000 and a watch each.

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