No wonder, Khadki, where Dhanraj lived and breathed his hockey, is all decked up to celebrate the hockey success. The point is brought home by a hockey enthusiast: ``We have done it and much of the credit goes to our boy who led the team from the front.''Dhanraj's residence in Khadki was equally overwhelmed. The Indian skipper's mother could not hold back her tears as she hailed her son: ``My son's hard work has finally paid off and I thank the Almighty for the golden moment.'' ``He called meup last night and asked me about his game. I could not express my feelings, but those four words he spoke to me were like millions,'' enthused the 52-year-old mother.``He had called me up from the Madras Airport just before the departure to Bangkok and I wished him all the best. ``Nalla aditt wa pa, kanna,'' (play well and come back a winner) I had wished him, and after that call it was yesterday he called me up.''His mother and father along with their daughter Sunita and son Vijay watched the final together. ``Our dad who is a workaholic had taken a half-day holiday to watch the match,'' said Sunita.

Although it was their son who led the team to victory, there was no change in their daily routine as the parents went about their job no airs, but joy written all over.``I was so happy that I could do nothing but recollect the way my son was playing. The tension during the match soon turned to joy when they won,'' the mother hastened to add.``All the boys played well, especially the keeper,'' she saidwhile acknowledging, Romba Nandri thambi (Thank you, very much son).Joining her in the feast was Mary, widow of Olympian Joe Philips.

Expressing her joy, she said after her husband and Babu Nimal, Dhanraj has brought glory to the game of hockey and especially to Khadki. ``It was a glorious moment for the Indian hockey and more so for the Khadkians as Dhanraj Pillay is one among them,'' said Harry Anthony, one of the officials of the Maharashtra Hockey Association. ``I watched the match, sitting on the edge of the seat as the game was closely fought.''``It was a tremendous joy and moreover because Dhanraj was there. He has suffered a lot and has now silenced his critics,'' said N K Mahajan, the patron of MHA.