The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Hockey scene

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Thursday, Apr 24, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Hockey scene

Indian Hockey Federation president K.P.S. Gill and K. Jothikumaran, who stepped down as secretary following a sting operation by Aaj Tak, have both been at the helm of affairs for more than a decade. Hockey steadily declined during their tenure and, for the first time in 80 years, the Indian team failed to qualify for the Olympics. Even without the sting operation, the two deserved to go. One hopes Mr. Gill will follow suit. Chelladurai Williams,

Chennai

Corruption is cancer and should be dealt with as such. It is time bureaucrats were thrown out of the sports body and former hockey players inducted to build a new team with talented sportspersons, of whom there is no dearth.

Otherwise, a day will come when we will not qualify for even the Asian Games.

C. Jameel Ahmed,

Bangalore

The charge that Mr. Jothikumaran accepted a bribe to include a player in the Indian team for the Azlan Shah tournament is shocking. The news channel has done a good job by exposing him. If the charges are proved, the former IHF secretary should be criminally proceeded against.

N. Nagesh,

Chennai

Close on the heels of India’s disaster in Chile in the Olympics qualifier, the national game has come in for criticism yet again. It is really disturbing to see the dismal state of affairs in hockey. Mr. Gill should take responsibility for the latest episode and resign.

If the government is serious about restoring hockey’s image, it should overhaul the entire squad. As a first step, it should earmark more money for the game.

P. Senthil Saravana Durai,

Tuticorin

It is appalling to see the state of hockey in the country where the game originated. After the Chile disaster, the Jothikumaran episode has plunged the game into a new low. All sporting activities thrive on the encouragement from fans. Hockey has been deprived of it. Indians have converted lock, stock and barrel to cricket; no one wants to spare time for hockey. Unless the people call for the reform of hockey, it is unlikely to improve.

Devendra L. Abbigeri,

Dharwad

Jothikumaran’s act is, without doubt, shameful. The call for Mr. Gill to quit as IHF president is welcome too. The visual media should be congratulated on exposing such unhealthy practices in sports federations. Gross injustice has been done to performing players, which has cost us our qualification for the Beijing Olympics. We sincerely hope that our new Sports Minister will use his powers to overhaul the IHF and bring in young, active and dynamic members to revive our national game.

Capt. N. Viswanathan,

Chennai

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