Former India Hockey Captain Asunta Lakra Exposes Sexual Harassment Cover-Up in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Former Indian women’s hockey captain Asunta Lakra has levelled sexual harassment allegations against the Jharkhand state hockey association, accusing officials of burying sexual harassment complaints and intimidating whistleblowers.

Lakra claims that a coach subjected junior players to prolonged misconduct, while top sports administrators actively threatened those attempting to protect the athletes.

The Accusations Against Coach Sudhir Gola

Lakra publicly named Sudhir Gola, a coach from Telangana whom the government appointed to oversee the Jharkhand training centre. Lakra and her husband previously worked alongside Gola for nearly two years.

“Earlier, several people raised concerns about him, but we did not believe them,” Lakra told IANS. “We even defended him because we had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.”

Audio Evidence and Player Testimonies

According to Lakra, an internal inquiry finally cracked the wall of silence, forcing the truth into the open:

• Atmosphere of Fear: While many victims remain too terrified to speak out, a few players found the courage to report inappropriate behavior.
• Hard Evidence: Lakra confirmed she possesses definitive proof. “This is not just hearsay. I have audio recordings. If needed, I can produce them.”
• Inappropriate Conduct on Tour: Players reported predatory behavior during tournaments in Visakhapatnam and Rajgir. In one instance, Gola allegedly called a player during a team bus ride, demanding she meet him privately.
• Targeting Junior Players: Lakra noted that Gola consistently sidelined senior players to isolate junior girls. “During team meetings… he would put his hand on a junior girl’s shoulder. Is that appropriate behavior for a coach?”

Hockey India Top Official Accused of Intimidation

The scandal reaches the highest levels of Indian sports administration. Lakra has formally accused Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh of threatening and intimidating her after she raised concerns about the players’ safety.

“After representing the country for so many years, why would I make false accusations against anyone?” Lakra questioned.

Lakra has fired off official written complaints detailing the harassment and subsequent cover-up to:

• The Jharkhand Sports Minister & Chief Minister
• The Sports Authority of India (SAI)
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha
• Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey

The Defence

Bholanath Singh has denied the allegations. The Hockey India Secretary General called Lakra’s claims “baseless” and labelled the controversy a targeted conspiracy against him.