NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN

Fired by the ambition to become the first Indian Formula One Race driver, Narain Karthikeyan is today the fastest Indian on the roads. Born in Chennai in 1976, Narain was inspired by his father G R Karthikeyan, who was a National Rally Champion himself.

He proved his mettle when he reached the semi finals in the Pilote Elf competition. Narain trained at the Elf Winfield Racing School in France. Returning to India, he raced in the 1993 Formula Maruti.

Narain worked the tracks on the European circuit, through the British Vauxhall Junior Championship. In 1994 he became the first Indian to win any European Championship, with the British Formula Ford Winter series.

He finished second in the Formula Asian Championship in 1995. The distinction of being the only Asian to win the Formula Asian Championship (1996) also belongs to him.

His racing idols - Aryten Senna and Michael Schumacher. He is also a fan of the great German Tennis star - Boris Becker.

DHANRAJ PILLAI

India’s best foot forward in hockey - Dhanraj Pillai.

One of India’s best centre forwards in hockey history, he is highly respected by rival teams.

He is the recipient of the Arjuna Puraskar (1995) and the K.K. Birla Award (1998-99) for excellence in Sports.  He was also the highest goal scorer in the Bangkok Asian Games.  He was the only Indian player to figure in the World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup at Sydney.

Playing for Mahindra & Mahindra in the domestic circuit, he was chosen the Man of the Final in the Murugappa Gold Cup in 1999. He has also played for foreign clubs like the Indian Gymkhana (London), FC Lyon (France), Selangor (Kuala Lumpur), Abhahani Limited (Dhaka) and Stuttgart Kickers (Stuttgart).

He was part of the team, which came first in the four-nation tourney in Perth, Australia (2000) and the SAF games in Chennai (1995).

His dream is to be part of an Olympic Gold medal winning team.

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