Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay makes political debut by joining Aam Aadmi Party

Dhanraj Pillay, former captain of India

In one of the biggest coups by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, the newly incorporated body has played a master card by snapping up Indian Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay, as they look to widen their popularity.

Pillay joins hockey veterans Dilip Tirkey and Pargat Singh into politics, who have already made their forays into the field. Tirkey was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha in 2012 while Pargat Singh was fielded by the Shiromani Akali Dal from the Jalandhar Cantt.

The 45-year-old Pillay, who is almost synonymous with the sport of hockey in India, has had a glittering career spanning three decades. His trophy cabinet boasts of the highest sporting award in India – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Rathna (1999-00), the Arjuna award for hockey (1995), and the Padma Shri (2000).

The former Indian Hockey team captain, who will always be remembered for guiding the nation to a memorable Asian Games championship in 2002, was also named the Player of the tournament in the 2002 Champions Trophy in Germany.