'It's high time glamour comes into hockey'

sporty streak

When Dhanraj Pillai laid his eyes on a hockey stick, it was literally love at first sight.

Ever since then, there has been no stopping him. Every time he took to the field, he made every shot look very easy and when he talks about the national game, one can see the passion in his eyes. And it’s this same passion, he says, that has kept him going all these years.

“There were many sacrifices I had to make, especially in my personal life. The journey till now has not been an easy one. But I feel it was all worth it because there is nothing better than representing India in the national game,” Dhanraj tells Metrolife.

With the national team qualifying for the Olympics, hockey has come under the spotlight yet again. Still somewhere down the line, the game has never really been able to get the kind of audience that cricket has. The biggest reason, says Dhanraj, is the lack of marketing strategies. “We have a lot to learn from the BCCI.

The popularity has a lot to do with the way they market the sport globally. Today, even when the cricketers are on the field playing continuously, we see them in advertisements and promotional events. This way every family becomes familiar with each player. That’s what hockey has got to do now and without the help of the media, it’s not going to happen,” he adds.

As for the team qualifying, Dhanraj is happy for them but he feels that the real test begins now. He blatantly says that qualifying for the Olympics is not a big
challenge.

“They haven’t yet played against some of the world’s best teams. Now that they have made it to the Olympics, the team has to show its real strength and concentrate on its fitness level. They have all the best equipment and facilities on their side. Now all they have to do is perform,” he adds.  

Going on the same lines of the Indian Premier League, the ongoing World Series Hockey has managed to package the game in a more glamourous manner. “It’s high time glamour comes into hockey. As long as people enjoy the sport, I don’t find anything wrong with it,” he says.