How Indian hockey is beating itself with a stick

Sport once had a doctrine where nothing else but merit and ability on the field mattered.

But cash is destroying this doctrine. From match fixing in football to throwing matches in cricket money is dominating sport.

If match fixing by some of the most revered Indian cricketers was the darkest hour, then money taken by IHF secretary K Jothikumaran for awarding a national cap is certainly the biggest shame for the national game, even bigger than the hockey team not qualifying for the Olympics.

After all, how can one expect a team to qualify for the biggest tournament when there is a doubt as to whether the team selected was based on merit or whether there were external influences.