E-Paper
Long, lonely walk for Dhanraj Pillay
Pillay slipped out almost unnoticed from the Helleniko complex in Athens, just minutes after having played his last Olympics match.
Dhanraj Pillay, head down, kit bag on his shoulders, slipped out almost unnoticed from the main hockey complex here in Helleniko. He took some measured steps, turned around once to look at the scoreboard -- Korea 2, India 5 --and walked. With slow, measured steps, looking almost lost.
He turned towards the parking area, brushed his long, windswept hair, as if by habit, looked back once more at the pitch, and walked.
He looked up again, saw three Indian reporters with notebooks in hand, looking intently at him and then suddenly stopped, as if by habit.
He stood still, very quiet, his face reflecting a gamut of emotions -- anger, sorrow, regret.
"How are you Dhan? Would you like to talk? How are you feeling? The questions came fast.
"I have nothing to tell you guys. Let's get back home and then I'll talk. Bahut kuch bolna hai... there's a lot on my mind," came the measured, tired reply.
The 36-year-old had just walked out of the mixed zone, having refused to speak to the journalists there. He had walked out of the stadium, just minutes after having played his last Olympics match, and probably his last international for the country.
