Sports Ministry Asks Hockey India To Probe Allegations Made By Former Captain Asunta Lakra

Published 15 July 2026 · sports

Sports Ministry Asks Hockey India To Probe Allegations Made By Captain Asunta Lakra Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 15:16 IST Accusing HI general

Sports Ministry Asks Hockey India To Probe Allegations Made By Captain Asunta Lakra Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 15:16 IST Accusing HI general sectretary Bhola Nath Singh of intimidation Lakra had urged the sports ministry through an email to intervene urgently. Asunta Lakra raised questions on existing athlete protection and complaint redressal mechanisms. (AFP Photo) The Sports Ministry has asked Hockey India (HI) to examine allegations of intimidation and harassment made by former India women’s hockey captain Asunta Lakra and submit the findings of its inquiry to the ministry as soon as possible. “I have directed to forward the email dated 10.07.2026 received from Ms Asunta Lakra, former captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and a member of the Executive Board of Hockey India. She has requested the constitution of an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment, institutional intimidation, and related issues concerning women athletes," the letter from the ministry addressed to HI president Dilip Tirkey read. ‘It is requested that the issues raised in Ms Asunta Lakra‘s email may be placed before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted by Hockey India under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, for its consideration and appropriate action,’ it further added.

“And the outcome of the same may be shared with this Ministry," it said. The ministry, however, has not specified any timeline for the completion of the inquiry. In her email to the Sports Ministry, Lakra accused Hockey India general secretary Bhola Nath Singh of intimidation and sought immediate intervention against what she described as the institutional shielding of sexual harassment, intimidation and victimisation of women hockey players. She alleged that those accused of misconduct continued to receive protection, while athletes and officials who raised complaints faced intimidation and retaliatory action. Lakra had earlier spoken out against coach Sudhir Gola, who was accused of sexually harassing female players at the Eklavya Hockey Academy in Ranchi. Although Gola was later dismissed, she alleged that Bhola Nath Singh attempted to intimidate her over the matter. She further claimed that 31 players from Jharkhand, including both national and international hockey players, had submitted a written complaint against Bhola Nath Singh to the Jharkhand government. Calling for an impartial investigation, Lakra wrote that women athletes should be able to report sexual harassment with complete confidence that they would be protected rather than threatened, heard instead of silenced, and supported rather than subjected to retaliation.