NEW DELHI: Indian hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay could not contain his tears of joy as India secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics after a hard-fought 4-2 shoot-out win against Great Britain.
On Sunday, as India defended resolutely for 42 minutes with a man down on the field and custodian PR Sreejesh rock-solid at the post, Dhanraj, a former centre forward, was left emotional after Rajkumar Pal scored the winning goal in the shoot-out.
“I couldn’t stop my tears. I have never seen such performance in many years and now I am convinced that this team can bring us the Olympic gold after 44 years,” the former India skipper said.
As soon as the winning goal was scored, an emotional Dhanraj, watching from home, jumped with joy.
“Tears started falling from my eyes automatically. I saw such a match for the first time after the Sydney Olympics 2000. Sreejesh was standing like a wall in front of the goalpost and the number of saves he made is nothing short of a miracle,” Dhanraj, who has played four Olympics and four World Cups, told PTI Bhasha .
“I had goosebumps while watching the match. I was so happy that I started shouting loudly after India’s fourth goal in the penalty shootout. I was told that people in my society apartment would come out but I was so happy that I could not control,” said the veteran, who never ever got a chance to play even a semi-final .
India, an eight-time champion, last won Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980.
After 41 years, the Indian team brought home a bronze medal from the Tokyo games in 2020.
“After many years, I enjoyed the match to the fullest. I did not move from my place even for a minute, ” he said while trying to control his emotions.
Dhanraj struggled to find words to praise Harmanpreet Singh and his team.
“I have no words to praise this performance. Playing over 40 minutes of the quarter-final with 10 players was not easy. We were defensive but that was necessary. The way Sreejesh and our defenders played today and the way all four of them showed amazing skills in the penalty shootout. I am speechless” , he said .
When asked what advice he would give to the team for the semi-finals, Dhanraj said, “I would advise them to play in the same way and not put any pressure on themselves. The way this team has played these six matches, I am sure that it can bring us the Olympic gold medal after 44 years.’
He expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities.
‘This team has everything that is needed to become an Olympic champion. Along with the players, I was seeing Craig Fulton and Shivendra Singh in the coaching staff, how full of energy they were and how they were constantly standing and giving instructions,” he said.
For Dhanraj, Sreejesh enjoys legendary status in Indian hockey.
“Indian hockey has produced many great players, but I would put Sreejesh in the category of legend. A player like him comes once in a generation,” he was forthright in his assessment.
After defeating Australia in the Olympics after 52 years in the last pool match, Sreejesh had said that he is the Dhanraj Pillay of this generation of players.
“This is a big compliment for me. If someone is appreciating my contribution in this way and that too a player like Sreejesh, then it is a matter of great pride. Now this team should win gold for Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh,” he added.
On Sunday, as India defended resolutely for 42 minutes with a man down on the field and custodian PR Sreejesh rock-solid at the post, Dhanraj, a former centre forward, was left emotional after Rajkumar Pal scored the winning goal in the shoot-out.
“I couldn’t stop my tears. I have never seen such performance in many years and now I am convinced that this team can bring us the Olympic gold after 44 years,” the former India skipper said.
As soon as the winning goal was scored, an emotional Dhanraj, watching from home, jumped with joy.
“Tears started falling from my eyes automatically. I saw such a match for the first time after the Sydney Olympics 2000. Sreejesh was standing like a wall in front of the goalpost and the number of saves he made is nothing short of a miracle,” Dhanraj, who has played four Olympics and four World Cups, told PTI Bhasha .
“I had goosebumps while watching the match. I was so happy that I started shouting loudly after India’s fourth goal in the penalty shootout. I was told that people in my society apartment would come out but I was so happy that I could not control,” said the veteran, who never ever got a chance to play even a semi-final .
India, an eight-time champion, last won Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980.
After 41 years, the Indian team brought home a bronze medal from the Tokyo games in 2020.
“After many years, I enjoyed the match to the fullest. I did not move from my place even for a minute, ” he said while trying to control his emotions.
Dhanraj struggled to find words to praise Harmanpreet Singh and his team.
“I have no words to praise this performance. Playing over 40 minutes of the quarter-final with 10 players was not easy. We were defensive but that was necessary. The way Sreejesh and our defenders played today and the way all four of them showed amazing skills in the penalty shootout. I am speechless” , he said .
When asked what advice he would give to the team for the semi-finals, Dhanraj said, “I would advise them to play in the same way and not put any pressure on themselves. The way this team has played these six matches, I am sure that it can bring us the Olympic gold medal after 44 years.’
He expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities.
‘This team has everything that is needed to become an Olympic champion. Along with the players, I was seeing Craig Fulton and Shivendra Singh in the coaching staff, how full of energy they were and how they were constantly standing and giving instructions,” he said.
For Dhanraj, Sreejesh enjoys legendary status in Indian hockey.
“Indian hockey has produced many great players, but I would put Sreejesh in the category of legend. A player like him comes once in a generation,” he was forthright in his assessment.
After defeating Australia in the Olympics after 52 years in the last pool match, Sreejesh had said that he is the Dhanraj Pillay of this generation of players.
“This is a big compliment for me. If someone is appreciating my contribution in this way and that too a player like Sreejesh, then it is a matter of great pride. Now this team should win gold for Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh,” he added.
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